Tech Begins Buzz Classic With Two Wins
Yellow Jackets defeat Rhode Island and Niagara on opening day of tournament.



March 26, 1999

MARIETTA, Ga. - Georgia Tech captured two victories and snapped a three-game losing streak during the opening day of the 1999 Buzz Classic, which the Yellow Jackets are hosting at Al Bishop Softball Complex.

The 25-team tournament, which runs through Sunday, kicked off Friday with each team playing two contests each. The Jackets defeated Rhode Island, 7-1 and then stopped Niagara, 10-3 to finish the night. Tech improved to 16-17 with the pair of wins and ended a three-game losing streak in the process.

In the first game, catcher Anne Knobbe powered the Tech attack as she went 3-for-4 with a double, triple and homerun to drive in four runs. She connected on a two-run homerun in the first inning, hit a double in the fifth and hit a two-run triple off the top of the right centerfield fence in the sixth inning. The Jackets received RBI single from right fielder Susanne Miller to take a 3-0 after one inning. Tech added four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on Heather Sumrow had a pinch hit RBI single, left fielder Kori Jacobson had a RBI single and Knobbe added the two-RBI triple. Freshman Mimi Utt allowed just six hits and one run in improving her record to 9-10 for the year.

In the second contest, Tech exploded for eight first-inning runs, with shortstop Ellen Styer capping the run with a bases-loaded triple and she scored on an error by Niagara. Knobbe went 2-for-2 with two RBI including an RBI single in the third inning. Tech knocked out 11 hits in the contest, with second baseman Erin Hawley and left fielder Kori Jacobson each contributing two hits apiece. Styer finished the night by going 3-for-4 with four RBI, including an RBI single in the sixth inning. Junior Jamie Smith notched the win by allowing just five hits and three runs to move to 6-7 for the year.

Tech returns to action Saturday by playing No. 19 Southern Mississippi at 10:30 a.m., and Mercer at 3:30 p.m.

Game 1
Rhode Island 000 000 1 -- 1  6  2
Georgia Tech 300 004 x -- 7 13  0

Poetzsch, Chymbor (1) and Camara. Utt and Knobbe. WP -- Utt (9-10). LP -- Poetzsch (NA). HR -- GT: Knobbe (4), 1st, one on.

Game 2
Niagara       101 100 0 --  3  5  2
Georgia Tech  801 001 x -- 10 11  0

Martin and Lawton. Smith and Knobbe, Schanz (4). WP -- Smith (6-7). LP -- Martin (NA).