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Softball
Georgia Tech Rallies to Claim ACC Opener
March 9, 2018
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia (8-15, 0-1 ACC) jumped out to a 2-0 lead over Georgia Tech (12-7, 1-0 ACC), but the Yellow Jackets scored in each of the last three innings to earn a 9-5 victory in the series opener at The Park.
After being locked in a pitchers’ duel for the first three innings, Virginia finally broke through in the fourth, plating a pair of runs on three hits. Allison Davis (Oak Hill, Va.) broke up Emily Anderson’s perfect game by legging out a single to third base. Danni Ingraham (Laguna Niguel, Calfi.) and Lacy Smith (Lancaster, Pa.) followed with singles to load the bases with one out.
Olivia Gott (Weston, Fla.) pushed the first run of the night across by drawing an eight-pitch walk. Erika Osherow (Darien, Conn.) followed with a bases-loaded walk of her own, giving the Hoos a 2-0 lead.
The game turned in the top of the fifth as the Yellow Jackets put two aboard to start the inning. Smith, who cruised through four scoreless innings, recorded a strikeout for out one, but was then ejected from the game for grabbing a handful of dirt and going to the ball without wiping her hand.
Tabby Dabney (Mechanicsville, Va.) was forced into action in relief and induced a ground ball up the middle. The toss to second was mishandled, however, loading the bases with one out. A comebacker to the circle allowed Dabney to fire home for the second out, but the Yellow Jackets used two singles to plate four unearned runs and take a 4-2 lead.
Virginia capitalized on a Georgia Tech error in the bottom half as Allison Davis reached and later scored on Hayley Busby‘s (Phoenix, Ariz.) double to right center. The freshman’s 10th RBI of the year made it a 4-3 deficit for the Hoos.
The Yellow Jackets broke the game open in the sixth, using two doubles and an error to plate three runs and extend a 7-3 advantage. The Jackets tacked on two more in the seventh, to build the lead to 9-3.
In the bottom half, Virginia mounted a rally, scoring a pair of runs on four hits. Kate Covington (McLean, Va.) singled to open the frame and Allison Davis, Busby and Ingraham all followed with singles to plate two runs. With the bases loaded and one out, Busby was called out at third for hesitating off the bag, stifling the momentum as Georgia Tech wrapped up the 9-5 win.
In the circle, Smith worked 4 1/3 innings with three strikeouts and three walks before the ejection. She was charged with two unearned runs on five hits. Dabney (0-5) took the loss in relief, surrendering three runs, only one of which was earned, on two hits. Osherow worked the final two innings and allowed four runs, three earned, on three hits.
Emily Anderson (9-3) earned the win for Georgia Tech, going the distance and allowing five runs, four earned, on eight Virginia hits. Draven Sonnen led the Yellow Jackets at the plate, going 2-for-5 with three RBI.
TOP PERFORMERS
- Allison Davis finished 2-for-4 with three runs scored to extend her hitting streak to eight games.
- Busby also went 2-for-4 at the plate and drove in a pair of runs.
- Ingraham finished the night with a pair of hits and an RBI.
UP NEXT
Virginia and Georgia Tech conclude the series on Saturday (March 10) with a doubleheader. First pitch in game one is set for noon with the second game slated for 2 p.m.