Softball bounces back in Buzz Classic
By Jamie Howell / Student Publications
Sophomore Caitlin Lever slides into second against Mercer in the Buzz Classic. The softball team won five out of six games in the Buzz Classic before losing in the semifinals to Ohio State 5-3.
Coming off of a four-game skid in the Leadoff Classic, the softball team bounced back over the past week by winning five out of six games in the Buzz Classic in Marietta, Ga. and taking both games of the Yellow Jacket Invitational in Atlanta.
The Jackets started off the Buzz Classic with a pair of victories over Winthrop and Purdue on Friday.
Freshman Whitney Humphreys pitched a complete-game shutout in the opener against Winthrop as the Jackets emerged victorious 2-0.
In the second game against Purdue, Jessica Sallinger continued her impressive work by tossing a complete-game two-hitter to help the Jackets defeat the Boilermakers 2-1.
Second baseman Aileen Morales drove in the tying run while right fielder Caitlin Lever brought in the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the final inning to rally the Jackets to victory.
On the second day of the Classic Tech came back with another impressive performance to give them the No. 1 seed in the tournament going into bracket play.
Against St. Louis, Sarah Wood threw a complete-game shutout and only allowed two hits. Against Mercer in the second game of the day Sallinger and Humphreys combined to shut out the Bears.
Christine Sheridan hit two home runs and drove in five runs on the day to lead the Jackets ' offensive production. The team exploded for 18 runs in only 11 innings.
In the quarterfinals the Jackets dispatched No. 9 seed Florida A & amp;M in five innings. The Jackets jumped out to an early lead by scoring seven runs in the first inning of play against the Rattlers. Wood earned the win on the mound.
In the semifinals against the Ohio State Buckeyes, Tech started off hot once again with an early 3-0 lead, but the Jackets were unable to stay on top. Ohio State scored five runs in the last two innings against Sallinger to record the win, 5-3.
The Jackets returned to the friendly confines of Glenn Field to host the Yellow Jacket Invitational on Wednesday.
The Jackets steamrolled Boston 12-0 in the first game. Sallinger tossed her fifth shutout of the year against the Terriers. The team then beat Oakland 7-4.
Katie Donovan led the attack for the Jackets by driving in four home runs. Amy Hosier drove in four runs against Oakland.
