March 28, 2005
ATLANTA – Georgia Tech standout Jessica Sallinger was named Atlantic Coast Conference Softball Player of the Week after leading the 21st-ranked Yellow Jackets to a 4-0 week, including an ACC sweep over No. 24 Florida State, announced by the league office on Monday afternoon.
Sallinger, a native of Kennesaw, Ga., began the week on Monday with a complete-game shutout against Stetson, throwing five innings, allowing four hits and struck out four.
She then tossed her eighth career no-hitter, 10th shutout of the season, against the 24th-ranked Seminoles on Saturday, striking out 10, and helping Tech snap a nine-game losing streak to FSU.
In the nightcap later that afternoon, Sallinger entered the circle for Tech with the bases loaded and one out with the Jackets leading 3-1, and shut the door, striking out both FSU hitters she faced to record her first save of the season.
On Sunday, Sallinger again stymied the FSU offensive attack, taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning. With two outs, Sallinger surrendered her first hit in 13 2/3 innings to an FSU hitter, ending the game with a one-hitter, and her fourth consecutive complete-game shutout of the week, 11th of the season, striking out 11 in the game.
She now has not allowed an earned run in 45 2/3 straight innings and has run her consecutive scoreless innings pitched to 28 2/3. The ACC career strikeout leader moved into eighth place all-time in the NCAA with 1,244 career strikeouts and is currently second in the ACC with 111 career complete games and 98 career wins.
The Yellow Jackets will travel to Chattanooga, Tenn., on Wednesday, March 30, for a non-conference doubleheader with the Lady Mocs at 5 p.m. Tech will then travel to Virginia for a three-game conference series with the Cavaliers on Saturday and Sunday.
-GT SOFTBALL-
