Feb. 22, 2009
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – Tiffany Johnson tossed a two-hit shutout with eight strikeouts to lead the Georgia Tech softball team (8-5) past Oregon State (7-8), 6-0, Sunday morning in the final game of the Cathedral City Classic just outside of Palm Springs. Johnson improved to 4-1 on the season as she hurled her second straight shutout.
Johnson hit a three-run home run as well for the Yellow Jackets as all six runs came via the long ball. Freshman Jessica Sinclair belted her first career home run and Jen Yee added a two-run home run as well. It was the first home run of the season for each of them. Whitney Haller was 3-for-3 with a walk, while catcher Kate Kuzma threw out both Beaver runners attempting to steal.
It was scoreless game until the Yellow Jackets struck for three runs in the top of the third inning. Sinclair delivered the first blow against OSU pitcher Kelly Dyer as she blasted her first career home run to dead center field giving the Yellow Jackets a 1-0 lead. Later in the inning, Blair Shimandle singled, stole second base and then came around to score when Yee ripped a line drive home run just over the fence in right field.
In the bottom of the fifth, Oregon State has its best scoring chance with runners at first and second and just one out, but Johnson worked out of the jam.
Johnson then helped herself by hitting a two-out, three-run home run to left field in the top of the seventh inning. Haller and Yee, who had walked and singled respectively, scored on Johnson’s third home run of the season.
Johnson limited the Beavers to just two singles as she walked three and struck out eight. In her two starts this weekend in California, Johnson had two shutouts and gave up a combined three hits while fanning 20 batters.
The Yellow Jackets will now return to Georgia where they will play a single game at Kennesaw State Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. Georgia Tech will then head down to Columbus for the NFCA Leadoff Classic, Feb. 27-March 1. They will take on Louisiana-Lafayette, LSU, Illinois State, Northwestern and Penn State. Live audio and stats are both available free of charge for all games at www.ramblinwreck.com.
