Softball ACCtion: Sunday, April 26
Yellow Jackets and Seminoles complete sweeps; Maryland takes series from Virginia Tech
Sarah Hamilton struck out 11 Cavaliers as the Seminoles beat Virginia, 5-1.

Sarah Hamilton struck out 11 Cavaliers as the Seminoles beat Virginia, 5-1.

April 26, 2009

Jen Yee's Walk-Off Home Run Gives No. 20 Softball Series Sweep Over No. 12 UNC
A walk-off home run by redshirt junior Jen Yee in the bottom of the seventh inning gave the No. 20 Georgia Tech softball team (38-13, 15-3 ACC) a 3-2 win Sunday afternoon at Mewborn Field and helped complete a series sweep over No. 12 North Carolina (44-10, 15-5). The Yellow Jackets now control their own destiny in the ACC and can clinch the regular season title by winning two games next weekend at Maryland.

Sophomore Kristen Adkins (20-7) picked up her 20th win of the season as she pitched the complete-game for Tech. She scattered four hits, walked four and did not strike out a batter. This is the second straight series sweep for Georgia Tech as the Jackets have won all six ACC series' so far this season and nine in a row dating back to last year.

Georgia Tech got on the scoreboard with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. After missing a home run by inches down the right-field line, freshman Kelsi Weseman drew a two-out walk. She came around to score one batter later when senior Whitney Haller ripped a double into the gap in left-center field. On the throw home, UNC third baseman Alyssa Francona threw the ball into the stands and Haller was awarded home giving the Yellow Jackets an early 2-0 lead.

Florida State Completes Sweep With 5-1 Win Over Virginia
It was a perfect end for Senior Day as No. 18 Florida State completed the sweep over Virginia with a 5-1 victory in the final game of the regular season on JoAnne Graf Field. The Seminoles power forward to a 38-13 record and 14-4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, which is the best league record the program has had since joining the ACC in 1991.

Hamilton was solid in the circle for the Noles, giving up just two hits, one unearned run, a single walk and 11 punchouts. The sophomore continues to lead the pitching staff with an impressive 0.95 season ERA with 234 strikeouts, just 10 away from cracking the single-season Top 10 at Florida State.

The offense was nicely spread out this afternoon, led by freshman Shayla Jackson who picked up three hits while senior Michelle Snyder, junior Carly Wynn and sophomore Kristie McConn each recording two apiece. Shortstop Ashley Stager rounded out the hits with one of her own.

Maryland Tops Virginia Tech, 4-1, To Secure Series Victory
Powered by characteristically strong pitching and opportunistic hitting, the University of Maryland softball team knocked off host Virginia Tech, 4-1, Sunday afternoon in Tech Softball Park to claim its fourth Atlantic Coast Conference series victory of the season.

With the win, Maryland (25-23, 9-9 ACC) claimed sole possession of fourth place in the ACC standings heading into next weekend's regular season finale home series with conference leader Georgia Tech. The Terrapins now have won nine of their last 14 ACC matchups and have accumulated their most conference victories in a season since 1999.

Pitchers Kerry Hickey and Sarah Dooley held the Hokes lineup in check Sunday, combining to allow just six hits in seven innings. Hickey (11-8) started on the circle and scattered five hits over 4.2 innings, surrendering just one earned run with five strikeouts. Dooley pitched two scoreless innings in relief, allowing two hits and maintaining the Terps' three-run cushion.