Feb. 28, 2004
COLUMBUS, Ga. – Senior All-American Tara Knudsen and junior Liz Bartle hit back-to-back home runs in the third inning to put Georgia Tech (14-2) ahead for good as the Yellow Jackets defeated DePaul, 5-1, in the quarterfinals of the Silver Championship bracket of the Leadoff Classic. Senior pitcher Erin Voeltz (7-1) fired a three-hitter, allowing one run, three hits and struck out five.
DePaul struck first in the top of the second inning with a home run to right field by Linda Secka to give the Blue Demons an early 1-0 lead. Bartle led off the bottom half of the inning for Tech with a base hit to center field. Senior Soraya Reddick then grounded into a fielder’s choice and Bartle was thrown out at second. Reddick went on to steal second base and sophomore Lauren Schlechte walked to give the Jackets runners at first and second. Tech’s threat was then squashed by the Blue Deamons’ Sarah Martz with two strikeouts.
Junior Kirin Kumar began the bottom of the third inning with a double to left center field. The Jackets attempted to sacrifice Kumar over to third base but were unable as the bunt was popped up. Sophomore Amy Hosier then flied out to center field for the second out of the inning. Knudsen then sent a shot over the fence that one-hopped the 300-foot fence for her third home run in two days, tying the school record with 39 career home runs, giving Tech a 2-1 lead. Bartle then stepped to the plate and sent one over the left field fence for back-to-back homers for the Yellow Jackets as the lead was pushed to 3-1.
The Jackets started the fifth inning with consecutive singles from Kumar and junior Katie Donovan. Hosier reached base on an error by the shortstop to score a run and Knudsen singled to center field to collect another run as the lead moved to four, 5-1. Bartle then walked to load the bases with no outs. Martz pitched her way out of the jam for the Blue Deamons, recording two fielder’s choice outs at home plate and a ground out to third base to end the inning.
Neither team managed a base runner in the final two innings as Tech advanced to the semifinals of the bracket with a 5-1 victory.
After allowing the home run in the second inning, Voeltz settled down, retiring the final 10 DePaul hitters in order to close the game. Knudsen finished the game 2-for-3, with a home run and three RBIs.
The Rambling Wreck will face No. 16 Fresno State (8-3) in the semifinals of the Silver Championship bracket at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 29.
