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Georgia Tech tops FAMU in NCAA Softball
Regional
May 19, 2006
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. * Freshman Lacey Richardson (8-5) picked
up the win in relief, working 6.0 strong innings, allowing
just one run on four hits and fanned six, and sophomore Savannah
Brown went 2-for-2, with two walks and two runs batted in,
to lead No. 2 seed Georgia Tech (47-20) past No. 3 seed Florida
A&M (39-24), 9-3, at the NCAA Tuscaloosa Softball Regional
on Friday.
"Lacey came in and gave us a chance," said Tech
coach Ehren Earleywine. "I knew that we were going to
move some balls off their pitcher offensively, and we eventually
woke up and did." "I was ready from the start of
the game," said Richardson about having to come into the
game in the second inning. "We have had each other's back
all season, and today was no different. I just wanted to keep
us in the game because I know how good we can be offensively."
Senior Amy Hosier and freshman Whitney Haller each went 2-for-3,
while junior Kristina Hull went 1-for-4, with two RBIs, to
pace the Yellow Jackets offensively. Sophomore Aileen Morales
stole her 30th base of the season and went 1-for-3, with two
RBIs, at the plate for Tech. Hosier extended her hitting streak
to five games and tallied her team-leading 18th double of the
season.
FAMU came out swinging the bats as the Lady Rattlers scored
three runs in the top of the second inning. Kelly Gordon smashed
her eighth home run of the season to center field, a two-run
shot, and after Tech made a pitching change in favor of Richardson,
FAMU scored a third run on a two-out RBI single by Shalina
Taylor as the Lady Rattlers led 3-0. Seniors Christine Sheridan
and Hosier led off the bottom of the third inning with a walk
and base hit to put Jackets at first and second with no outs.
After a strikeout, Tech junior Caitlin Lever singled up the
middle to plate Sheridan and junior Daisy Paez drew a walk
to load the bases. The Jackets then grounded into a 1-2-3 double
play to end the inning as Tech trailed by two, 3-1. Brown led
off the bottom of the fourth inning with a shot to center field
that hit the top of the fence, bounced straight up in the air,
and came back into play for a double, but Tech was unable to
drive her in as the game advanced to the fifth inning with
FAMU on top, 3-1.
Hosier led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a double
off the left-center field wall, advanced to third on a wild
pitch and scored on a wild pitch to bring the Jackets within
one, 3-2. Haller singled to right field and scored on a two-out
double off the wall by Morales as Tech tied the game at 3-3.
The Jackets pulled off a successful double steal after Brown
walked to take their first lead of the game, 4-3. Haller drew
a bases loaded walk to force in the fifth run of the game for
the Jackets in the bottom of the sixth inning to give Tech
a two-run lead, 5-3. After consecutive outs, Morales and Brown
drew walks to force in two more runs and junior Kristina Hull
singled through the right side to plate two more runs and give
Tech a 9-3 lead.
Richardson induced a double play after hitting the leadoff
batter and retired the final batter on a ground out to lead
Tech to a six-run victory.
Tech scored nine runs, on nine hits and had no errors, while
FAMU scored three runs, on eight hits and committed two errors.
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