March 19, 2013
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – The Georgia Tech softball team (13-15) dropped a pair of one-run games Tuesday against Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville at Cougar Field. SIUE (16-7) managed to score three runs on the day, which proved to be enough as the Cougars defeated the Yellow Jackets, 2-1 and 1-0.
Junior Hayley Downs recorded three of Tech’s six hits on the day and Hope Rush scored the Yellow Jackets’ lone run on a long ball to centerfield. Tech has played nine one-run games this season, going 4-5 in those situations.
Game 1 – SIUE 2, Georgia Tech 1
The Cougars broke through in the second inning of game one in the doubleheader. Kayla Riggs reached on a base-hit, the first of the game for SIUE. She stole second and scored on an RBI-single off the bat of Brittany Toney.
Rush evened the score with her ninth home run of the season in the fifth frame. She roped a Haley Chambers offering over the centerfield wall to knot the game, 1-1.
SIUE laced together three singles with two outs in the bottom of the inning, which scored Rebecca Gray. The Cougars had the bases loaded and a 2-1 lead, but Rush forced a pop up easily caught by Ashley Thomas at shortstop to end the inning and prevent the runs from scoring.
Rush (6-9) suffered the loss. She scattered six hits and allowed two runs in six innings of work.
Chambers (8-2) earned the win for the Cougars, allowing one run on four hits with nine strikeouts in a complete-game effort.
Game 2 – SIUE 1, Georgia Tech 0
Tech starter Ashley Clifton and SIUE pitcher Erin Greenwalt took a pitcher’s duel into the fifth inning, allowing two hits and just three base runners apiece.
It was in that inning when the Cougars plated the first and only run of the game. Jordan LaFave led off with a double and scored on an RBI-single thanks to Chelsea Yankolovich.
Clifton (2-4) went the distance and allowed one run on five hits with four strikeouts.
Greenwalt (5-3) scattered two hits, walked one batter and fanned five.
The Jackets continue their six-game swing through the Midwest with a single game Wednesday at Southeast Missouri State. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. ET.
