Georgia Tech Rallies To Down Virginia Tech 14-4 In ACC Softball Championship

May 9, 2009

RALEIGH, N.C. (theACC.com) – Top seeded Georgia Tech rallied to oust fifth seeded Virginia Tech, 14-4 in the second semifinal of the 2009 ACC Softball Championship at NC State’s Dail Softball Stadium. The Yellow Jackets will advance to Sunday’s ACC Championship Game against the Seminoles of Florida State. The title game will start at 1 p.m.

Georgia Tech improves to 42-13 while the Hokies fall to an even 28-28 on the season. The win marked the most runs scored in an ACC Softball Championship game since Florida State hung 12 runs on Georgia Tech in 1993.

The Hokies got off to a hot start when Beth Walker smashed a grand slam to dead centerfield in the bottom of the first to give Virginia Tech a 4-0 lead. The Yellow Jackets came roaring back in the top of the fourth with eight runs off seven hits and two Hokie errors. Georgia Tech pushed four across before Virginia Tech could record the first out. Georgia Tech added six additional insurance runs in the top of the seventh to close out the win.

Jessica Coan picked up the win for Georgia Tech to improve to 6-3. She relieved staring pitcher Tiffany Johnson after the first inning grand slam and went the remaining six and two thirds of an inning, holding the Hokies scoreless and scattering three hits. Virginia Tech’s Kenzie Roark took the loss to fall to 22-18. Roark went three and a third, allowing seven runs, six earned off six hits. Abbie Rexrode threw three and two thirds allowing seven runs, six earned on five hits.

Sunday’s title game will be broadcast along the league’s regional sports networks starting at 1 p.m. Please check your local listings for specific channel information.

For complete coverage of the ACC Softball Championship, please visit the ACC’s championship central at: http://www.theacc.com/championships/09-softball-championship.html. The ACC is on Twitter; follow the league’s feed at twitter.com/TheACC.