Softball improves to 9-4, prepares for Buzz Classic

Blair Shimandle drove in two runs and Amy Hosier hit her first home run of the year as the Jackets swept Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs. Tuesday’s pair of victories followed a 1-1 performance by the Jackets in last weekend’s rain-shortened NFCA Leadoff Classic.

In game one of the doubleheader, Tech was led by outstanding pitching performances by Lacey Richardson and Whitney Haller. Richardson started the game and lasted four and 2/3 innings, scattering four hits without giving up a run and collecting her second victory of the season. Haller came in during the fifth inning to stop a Bulldog threat, and she succeeded, as Tech got out of the inning without any damage. Haller finished the rest of the game on the mound tossing two and 1/3 innings with one hit and no runs allowed. Haller preserved the shutout and picked up her second save of the season.

Offensively, the Jackets opened up the game with a first inning solo home run by Haller. Tech increased their lead to 2-0 when Haller doubled with two outs and later scored an unearned run after a Bulldog error. The remainder of the game saw very little offensive output as the Jackets managed only two hits in the final three innings in the 2-0 victory.

In the second game, the Jacket offense came to life, which made the second game drastically different from the first. Shimandle’s base hit drove in Aileen Morales for a 1-0 Tech lead in the bottom of the first.

However, Gardner-Webb answered in the top of the second when Adrienne Smith drove in an RBI single, tying the game at one. Tech’s offense went back to work in the bottom half of the second as Shimandle picked up her second RBI of the game with a triple, scoring Stephanie Butler.

The Jackets struck again in the third inning with two unearned runs, taking advantage of a Bulldog defense that finished the game with three errors. After Gardner-Webb cut the Jacket lead to 4-2, Tech blew the game wide open with a five run fourth inning led by a two-run triple by Haller and a two-run homer by Hosier.

In the fifth inning, Tech added one final run as Butler scored on a wild pitch, pushing the lead to 10-2 and ending the game. Sophomore Whitney Humphreys improved her record to 6-1, picking up the win with a three-inning performance, allowing two earned runs on five hits. Sarah Wood pitched the final two innings, allowing no hits and striking out three Bulldogs.

Earlier in the week, the Jackets competed in the NFCA Leadoff Classic, beating Hofstra after falling to No. 7 Alabama.

Against Alabama, Tech scored first on a Savannah Brown RBI single in the first inning. After the Crimson Tide posted two runs, the Jackets responded as Morales hit an RBI double, tying the score at two. However, in the top of the seventh, Alabama’s Stephanie VanBrakle homered off of Humphreys, giving the Tide the lead 3-2, which was the final score of the game. It was the first loss of the season for pitcher Humphreys.

In their second game of the tournament, the Jackets were led by a 3-4 performance from Hosier and an RBI from Haller in a 3-1 victory over Hofstra. Humphreys started the game for the Jackets, picking up the win in four strong innings of work. Haller recorded the save by pitching the final three innings in a 3-1 Tech victory.

“As important right now as anything, we need to play better defense,” Head Coach Ehren Earleywine said. “We’re not dominant enough to give away outs and still win. It’s early though, and as long as we stay committed to good fundamentals and solid preparation, we’ll be very competitive down the stretch.”

The Jackets will compete today and tomorrow in the Buzz Classic in Marietta. They’ll face East Tennessee, Marshall, Austin Peay and Connecticut.