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ATLANTA The Virginia softball team (6-12, 2-1 ACC) dropped its final game of the season-opening series with Georgia Tech, 6-3, Thursday at Glenn Field in Atlanta. The Yellow Jackets improve to 7-14 and 1-2 in conference play.
The Cavaliers still won the series with the Yellow Jackets, the first ACC series victory since taking two-of-three from Maryland in 2006. The last time Virginia took the series with Georgia Tech was back in 2001 after claiming both games of a doubleheader. The two teams met just twice that season.
Virginia scored three runs on five hits and committed two errors in the game, while Georgia Tech registered six runs on six hits and had one error. Five different players had hits for UVa.
Fourth-year Karla Wilburn (3-5, 1-1 ACC) took the loss, going 2 1/3 innings and giving up three runs (two earned) on two hits. Whitney Holstun and Allee Rife also made appearances in the circle for UVa.
The Cavaliers got on the board first in the top of the second inning. With one out, Carly Winger singled up to middle to put a runner on base. Winger was brought in to score when the next batter, Sarah Tacke, doubled off the wall in right center. Winger scored all the way from first to give Virginia a 1-0 lead.
Georgia Tech took its first lead of the series after scoring three runs in the third. With one out, Christy Jones reached first on a Virginia fielding error. Stephanie Butler followed with a single through the right side, moving Jones to third. The next batter, Eileen Morales, homered to left field to give the Yellow Jackets a 3-1 advantage.
The Yellow Jackets put up two more in the fifth inning, thanks to another long ball. With one out, Morales reached first on a single. Whitney Haller’s two-run homer made it 5-1 in favor of the Ramblin’ Wreck.
After three hitless innings, Lindsey Preuss got a rally started with a single to right field in the sixth. Kelly Haller followed next with a single up the middle to put runners on first and second with one out. After Alison Pittman came in to run for Haller, Carly Winger walked to load the bases. Sarah Tacke, who hit a grand slam in Wednesday’s game one win, was hit by a pitch to score Preuss and keep the bases full. Abby Snyder singled to left to score Pittman and the Cavaliers cut the lead to two, 5-3.
Georgia Tech got a run back in the bottom of the six, with its third home run to left field, this time by designated player Jessica Weaver. The Yellow Jackets led 6-3 heading into the seventh.
Virginia had the top of the order up to begin the final inning but went 1-2-3 to end the game.
The Cavaliers head to Louisville to play in the Red and Black Tournament this weekend.