Feb. 23, 2013
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – The Georgia Tech softball team (8-7) fell, 5-3, in a close knit game against the No. 5 Florida Gators, before it dropped a 9-1 contest to Oregon State on day two at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, Calif.
Against the Gators, the Jackets trailed 1-0 until the second inning when Katie Johnsky blasted her third home run of the year – a solo shot to lead off the inning.
The 1-1 tie stood over the next two innings as both teams’ defenses played solid. The Jackets broke the tie in the fifth inning and scored two runs to go up 3-1.
Hayley Downs led off the bottom of the fifth for Tech with a base-hit and Ashley Thomas reached base on an error by Florida relief pitcher Hannah Rogers. With two on base and one out, Alysha Rudnik drove a line drive just over the second baseman’s outstretched glove to score Hayley Downs from second.
Ashley Thomas moved to third and with two outs, a ground ball off the bat of Karly Fullem bounced off and away from the Florida third baseman to allow Ashley Thomas to score and give Tech the 3-1 advantage.
The Gators, however, didn’t back down and put up a four-spot in the top of the sixth to regain the lead and hold on for the win. Three of the four runs that scored reached base on either a walk or a hit by pitch.
Hope Rush (4-5) suffered the loss for Tech as she pitched a complete-game effort and allowed five runs on eight hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
Lauren Haeger earned the start for the Gators and was replaced in the fourth inning by Rogers (7-1) who is the pitcher of record. Rogers threw the remaining 4.0 innings with two runs on three hits and five strikeouts.
Game 2 – Oregon State 9, Georgia Tech 1
The Jackets had a rough start against Oregon State, as the Beavers scored two runs from the get-go. Tech committed two costly errors in the first inning to allow the Beavers to take the 2-0 lead.
The Beavers managed to score in every inning except the second and third innings, and scored nine runs on 10 hits.
Georgia Tech’s lone run came in the bottom of the seventh inning. With one out, Maddie Lionberger reached first on a fielder’s choice. Caitlyn Coffey singled to move Lionberger to second and Hayley Downs walked to load the bases.
Ashley Thomas singled up the middle to score Lionberger from third, but Coffey rounded third was sent home. She was thrown out on a close play at the plate to end the game and give the Beavers the 9-1 victory.
Georgia Tech pitcher Kylie Kleinschmidt (3-1) pitched her second complete game of the season with six earned runs, six walks and two strikeouts.
Marina Demore (8-1) pitched all seven innings and allowed one run with two walks and three strikeouts.
The Jackets are back in action on Sunday for their final game of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic against Illinois. First pitch is set for 9 a.m. PT/12 p.m. ET.
