April 9, 2008

Georgia Tech Sweeps #17/19 Georgia For Second Straight Season

ATLANTA - A two-run single by freshman Jessica Weaver and a RBI double from freshman Amanda Crow in the bottom of the sixth inning gave the Georgia Tech Softball Team (19-26) a come-from-behind 4-3 win in game two and a doubleheader sweep of #17/19 Georgia (35-13) before an overflow crowd at Glenn Field. Behind a four-run fifth inning, the Jackets won game one 6-4. This marks the second straight sweep for Georgia Tech over Georgia and the Jackets have now won six of the last seven games in the series and 16 straight non-conference home games.

"This was a huge day for us," head coach Sharon Perkins said. "I am especially proud of how they stuck with the plan in game two and were able to fight back. We played well in all three phases of the game today and now need to build on this momentum for a big conference weekend."

Senior Whitney Humphreys picked up a complete-game victory in the first game today, while freshman Emily Schreck hurled four innings in relief of game two for the win.

Cavaliers Split Doubleheader with Flames

LYNCHBURG, Va. - The Virginia softball team (13-28) split a Wednesday doubleheader with Liberty (8-25-1), claiming game one 7-6 but falling in the second contest 9-6. Cavalier fourth-year Lindsey Preuss hit her team-leading sixth home run in the second game and teammate Carly Winger belted her fifth in the first.

The Cavaliers battled back from a 2-0 deficit after one inning of play in the opening game. After a one-run second, UVa posted three two-run innings, scoring a pair in the third, sixth and seventh. Leading 7-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Lady Flames were able to put together a three-run rally and left the bases loaded, falling a run short of tying the ballgame.

Virginia's Karla Wilburn earned the win in the circle for the Orange and Blue, throwing 5 2/3 and allowing three runs, all earned, with two strikeouts and one walk. Whitney Holstun came on in relief to toss the final 1 1/3 and earned the save.

No. 15 Tar Heels Split At Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The No. 15 North Carolina softball earned its second midweek split in as many weeks as the Tar Heels claimed an 8-0 five inning win over Charlotte in game one before falling 3-1 in game two. Lisa Norris earned the win in the circle for Carolina in game one. Carolina will take on Virginia in a three-game series this weekend in Charlottesville, Va.

Carolina took advantage of a 49er error in the top of the second when the Tar Heels pushed across three runs. Emily Troup led off the inning by drawing a base on balls and was replaced on the base paths by Dani Manko who proceeded to steal second base. Lisa Norris would follow by hitting a grounder to third that the Charlotte third baseman threw over the first baseman's head allowing Manko to score. Alyssa Francona would put a pair of runners on for Breanna Brown who delivered a bases clearing double into the left center field gap.

Virginia Tech Suffers Tough Split With Longwood

BLACKSBURG, Va. - A spirited rally turned to stunning silence after a good start to the day as the 19th-ranked Virginia Tech softball team split a pair of games with Longwood University Wednesday evening at Tech Softball Park. The Hokies won the first game 2-0 behind a combined one-hitter, but dropped the second game 5-4 in eight innings.

In the first game, Tech managed just four hits, but a two-RBI single from Misty Hall in the first inning would be enough as Heather Lowry pitched one of her best games of the year.

Lowry (W, 6-2) went 5.0 strong innings, giving up just one hit with five strikeouts. Angela Tincher pitched the final two innings, collecting six strikeouts to record her second save of the year.

Florida State Falls In Doubleheader Against Central Florida

ORLANDO, Fla. - The Seminoles were unable to pull off a win against the Golden Knights of Central Florida as they dropped both games of a doubleheader at the UCF Softball Complex in Orlando, Fla., on April 9. Florida State is now 31-17 on the season while UCF improves to 35-15.

The Seminoles were held scoreless in the first game of the afternoon, with sophomore Terese Gober credited with the loss. Gober is now 8-8 on the season and is throwing a 2.40 ERA following the loss in Orlando.

UCF was first to score in the third as the Seminoles' Whitney Buckmon saw most of the action in left field with three back-to-back hits coming her way, including a triple that put Golden Knight Tiffany Lane in scoring position.

BC Falls On Road to Massachusetts

AMHERST, Mass. - The Boston College softball team (20-21, 2-7 ACC) traveled to in-state opponent Massachusetts (21-11, 8-0 A10) for a mid-week match-up Wednesday; falling to the Minutewomen by a score of 8-0 in five innings.

Sophomore Blair Destito collected the team's lone hit, her eleventh this season. Sophomore Taylor Peyton (11-8) started for the Eagles. She pitched two innings and allowed three runs off four hits before turning the game over to freshman Allison Gage. Gage pitched the final two innings, allowing four runs on four hits.

Massachusetts took the early 1-0 advantage as sophomore Whitney Williams homered in the bottom of the first inning. The Minutewomen then rallied for seven runs in the bottom of the third inning, giving them the 8-0 lead and eventual final score. Junior pitcher Brandice Balshmiter (14-6) kept the Eagles to one hit over the five innings and struck out three.