April 24, 2002
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Powered by brilliant pitching performances by starters Erin Voeltz and Jessica Sallinger, as well as a combined 22 hits, the Georgia Tech softball team (43-15, 6-2 ACC) coasted to a doubleheader sweep of Samford (20-30) Wednesday at Bulldog Field. Tech won the first game, 7-1, and took the second, 6-0.
Sallinger tossed a one-hit gem in game two, becoming the first Tech pitcher to post a 20-win season in the process. The Jackets used a season-high 12 hits and a five-hitter by Voeltz in the first game, as Tech coasted to a pair of six-run victories.
In the opening contest, the Jackets took advantage of three third-inning errors by Samford to take a 2-0 lead. The big blow for the Bulldogs came with two outs and second baseman Felicia Coursey and shortstop Tara Knudsen on second and third. Right fielder Soraya Reddick grounded the ball to Samford shortstop Mindy Shunnarah, who booted the ball while trying to make a back-handed stop. Both Coursey and Knudsen came home, giving Tech a two-run advantage. The Jackets did not have a hit in the inning.
Senior third baseman Jamie Frost extended the lead to 3-0 with a home run to center in the top of the fourth. She now has three homers this season after entering the year with two on her career.
Frost also played a big part in a four-run fifth inning, as she tripled down the right field line to score designated player Tasha Waugh who had a RBI single earlier in the frame. Center fielder Sara Wissmann and left fielder Tara Neff also singled to drive in runs in the inning.
Samford tallied its only run of the game on a solo homer to left field by center fielder Michelle Wright in the bottom of the seventh.
Voeltz tossed one of her strongest games of the year, allowing just five hits and one run, while striking out seven. She was strong from the start, retiring the first 10 batters she faced. Voeltz moves to 16-6 on the season with the win. She now has 28 career wins, which is tied for fifth on the all-time Tech list.
Offensively, Tech had five batters with two hits, including Frost, who was 2-for-2 with a homer, a triple and two runs batted in. Wood was 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, while Neff and Wissmann also had two hits each.
The Jackets’ hot bats carried over into game two, as Tech posted three runs in the top of the first. Wood brought the first run home on a RBI single, while a Wissmann double plated Knudsen, who singled earlier in the inning, and Wood.
First baseman Mimi Utt pushed the lead to 4-0 with her second homer of the season in the top of the second.
Tech added two more runs in the third, as Wood got the rally started with her school record 22nd double of the season. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Reddick, who was safe on the play as Bulldog second baseman Rebekah Phillips dropped the ball at first. Wood scored on a sac fly to right field by Waugh, and Reddick later came home on a single by Frost.
Sallinger (20-7) was brilliant as usual, as she did not allow a hit until the bottom of the sixth inning. She fanned five and walked three, while recording her eighth shutout of the season.
At the plate, Wood, Frost and left fielder Kirin Kumar each had two hits in the second game. Wood and Frost had four this apiece on the afternoon.
Tech returns to action Friday when the Jackets host Mercer for a 3 p.m. doubleheader at Glenn Field. Rival Georgia comes to town Sunday for a 2 p.m. twin bill to close out the regular season.
-GT-
