March 4, 2017
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Down 8-0 in the fifth inning, the Georgia Tech softball team (6-12, 0-2 ACC) rallied to score three runs in the fifth and four runs in the sixth, sparked by a grand slam, from Samantha Pierannunzi, but eventually fell to No. 1/2 Florida State (16-1-1, 2-0), 13-8, on Saturday afternoon at JoAnne Graf Field. The eight runs are the most scored on Florida State this season.
How It Happened
Tech clawed back from an 8-0 deficit with three runs in the fifth and four runs in the sixth. In the fifth, Kelsey Chisholm was hit by a pitch and moved to second on Karissa Arnold’s walk. Crosby Huckabay’s fly out to right advanced Chisholm. Arnold stole second and Chisholm crossed home plate on FSU’s errant throw down.
Colleen Darragh and Samantha Pierannunzi walked to load the bases and an RBI-single from Jessica Kowalewicz brought in Arnold. Malea Bell reached on a fielder’s choice to bring in Darragh for the third run.
After FSU added three runs in the fifth to take a 10-3 lead, Tech rallied again for four runs in the sixth. With two outs, Arnold, Huckabay and Darragh singled to set the table for Pierannunzi. The senior dug into the box and roped a grand slam to left center for her fifth home run of the year and the second grand slam of her career.
The Seminoles came back with three runs in the sixth. The Yellow Jackets got one run back in the seventh thanks to an RBI from Chisholm that scored pinch runner Katie Krzus. Tech had an opportunity to score more, but left bases loaded in the top of the seventh.
Tech starter Brooke Barfield (2-5) suffered the loss throwing three innings with eight runs on nine hits. Jenna Goodrich pitched the remaining three innings with five runs on seven hits and five strike outs.
Florida State used three pitchers in the win with starter Meghan King (7-0) earning the win. King pitched the first four innings and allowed two hits. Tessa Daniels threw a third of an inning with three runs on three hits, and Cassidy Davis threw 2.1 innings with five runs on six hits before King re-entered to get the last out.
Quote
“We were down 8-0 and I said find a way,” head coach Shelly Hoerner said. “We found a way, gave it up and found a way again. We’ve got to be sharper. We haven’t put it together yet, but we found a way and fought back against the number one team in the country. I’m happy with our progress and we have to keep growing.”
Quick Hits
– The Jackets got their ACC-best eighth runner stealing this season and fourth against FSU in the series. Rebecca Prairie and Bell connected at third to get the runner.
– The Jackets eight hits came from seven different players with Kendall Chadwick smacking a pair, and the eight runs came from six different players with Darragh and Arnold scoring a pair each.
– The four RBI from Pierannunzi marks her fourth game with multiple RBI this season.
Next Up
The Yellow Jackets and Seminoles wrap up the series on Sunday at 12 p.m.
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