March 21, 2004
MARIETTA, Ga. – Despite not allowing an earned run, the Georgia Tech softball team dropped a 5-4 decision to Connecticut in the quaterfinals of the Buzz Classic this morning. Senior Tara Knudsen continued to shine at the plate for the Yellow Jackets, going 3-for-3 in the ballgame, to reach safely in seven straight at bats. UConn (7-11) advances to the semifinals against No. 2 seed Minnesota at 11:30 a.m.
Tech jumped out in front early in the game with two runs in the first inning. Senior Soraya Reddick led off with a walk and stole second base. Knudsen and junior Katie Donovan followed with consecutive singles to score Reddick. The Jackets pulled off a double steal to plate the second run as Tech led 2-0 after one.
The Yellow Jackets remained on top by two runs for the next three innings as the game advanced to the bottom of the fifth inning. The Huskies put the first three base runners on in the fifth on two Jacket errors and a base hit. After tallying two strikeouts, the UConn registered three straight hits to score five runs and take a 5-3 lead.
The Rambling Wreck cut into the lead in the sixth inning as sophomore Lauren Schlechte led off with a double and moved around to score on two ground balls as the game headed to the seventh inning with Tech trailing 5-4.
Knudsen doubled to center field with one out to give Tech a runner in scoring position in the final inning. Donovan then flied out to right field and Bartle lined out to right field to end the game, 5-4.
Tech scored four runs, eight hits and committed three errors, while UConn scored five runs, on six hits and had one error.
Junior Jessica Sallinger (17-4) pitched four innings, allowing five hits, five runs, no earned runs and struck out 11 in the loss. Senior Erin Voeltz pitched the final two innings, giving up two hits and struck out one.
Georgia Tech will host Ohio on Tuesday, March 23, for a non-conference doubleheader at Glenn Field. The games are scheduled to start at 2 p.m.
In the semifinals of the Buzz Classic, No. 2 Minnesota will face the winner of No. 5 North Carolina and No. 3 Nicholls State. The other semifinal will be No. 4 Connecticut versus No. 8 NC State.
