Season Ends in Opening Round Loss

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Georgia Tech (31-26) scored three runs in the fifth inning to seal an 8-0 win over Virginia (22-31) in the opening round of the ACC Softball Championship on Wednesday (May 8) at JoAnne Graf Field.
 
The Yellow Jackets made the most of seven walks, five of which came across the plate to score. Morgan Bruce (17-13) tossed a complete game to earn the win for Georgia Tech.
 
Aly Rayle (Herndon, Va.) was charged with the loss for Virginia. She worked two innings, surrendering a pair of runs on three hits. She struck out one and did not allow a walk in her outing.
 
The Cavaliers missed an opportunity to jump on the Yellow Jackets in the top of the first. Hayley Busby (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Lacy Smith (Lancaster, Pa.) each roped the first pitch they saw for back-to-back singles. After a sacrifice bunt, a walk loaded the bases with one out but the Cavaliers were unable to break through.
 
KEY INNING
Three walks loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth for Georgia Tech. With two outs, Kaylee Ellebracht delivered a bases-clearing double to left, breaking the game open for the Yellow Jackets. The big hit was the only of the frame as Georgia Tech capitalized on the walks to build a 5-0 lead.

TOUCHING HOME
• Brianna Roper doubled in the bottom of the first and crossed the plate on Katie Krzus’ sacrifice fly before Tricia Awald added a solo home run to make it 2-0 Georgia Tech.
• Ellebracht’s double in the fourth made it 5-0.
• A bases-loaded walk pushed one across before Ellebracht singled home a pair to invoke the run-rule in the fifth.

ON THE LINES
• Busby extended her hitting streak to 14 games and added a seventh straight multi-hit game.
• Smith went 1-for-2 to finish the year hitting .416, the third-highest average in program history.
• Allyson Frei (Branchville, N.J.) worked 2 2/3 innings in the circle, allowing six runs on three hits.