May 6, 2017
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech softball (18-33, 7-15 ACC) picked up a 2-1, series-opening victory against Pitt (23-22, 6-16) on Saturday evening at Mewborn Field. The Jackets and Panthers play a doubleheader on Sunday at 11 a.m. on the ACC Network Extra and Tech will honor its three seniors in a ceremony before the first game.
How it Happened
Pitt plated its only run in the opening frame. With one out, Kaitlin Manuel was plunked and got to third on a fielder’s choice and a walk. With the bases loaded, Manuel scored on a Georgia Tech fielding error. With the bases juiced again, and just one out, Tech pitcher Emily Anderson fanned the next two batters to get out of the jam.
The Jackets recovered in the bottom of the inning. Jessica Kowalewicz led off with a rocket to left for a single. She moved to second on a text book sacrifice bunt from Samantha Pierannunzi. Katie Krzus walked and Draven Sonnon singled to load the bases for Tech.
Kowalewicz drew a throw to third and the misfire from Pitt’s catcher got away, allowing Kowalewicz to score. The ball rolled into dead ball territory which brought in Krzus for a two-base Panther error, giving Tech the 2-1 lead.
Anderson earned the win (10-13) and surrendered one unearned run with five hits in a complete-game effort with seven strikeouts.
Pitt starter Brittany Knight (12-12) was hung with the loss after throwing 5.1 innings with two runs on three hits. Sarah Dawson threw the remaining 0.2 innings and scattered two hits.
Quote
“After a rocky first inning, we settled in and played a pretty solid game against a good team,” head coach Shelly Hoerner said. “It was great for the seniors to get the win on graduation day.”
Quick Hits
– Seniors Samantha Pierannunzi and Colleen Darragh graduated at 3 p.m. with business administration degrees and hustled across the street to the softball field to get ready for the game.
– Pierannunzi extends an eight-game reached base streak with a hit, and Kowalewicz makes her reached-base streak nine games with a hit.
– Sonnon led Tech with two hits
– Krzus added a hit and a walk
For the latest information on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, follow us on Twitter (@GaTechSoftball), Instagram (@GaTechSoftball), Facebook (Georgia Tech Softball) or by visiting www.ramblinwreck.com.
