May 14, 2005

Box Score | 2005 ACC Championship Central

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Top-seeded Georgia Tech defeated third-seeded Virginia, 3-0 Saturday afternoon at the Terrapin Softball Complex on the campus of the University of Maryland. The Yellow Jackets' Jessica Sallinger picked up the win advancing Georgia Tech into the finals of the ACC Softball Championship for the second straight year and for the third time in the last four. The win by Sallinger was the 107th of her career, moving her into a tie with Florida State's Leslie Malerich for career victories in ACC history. Katie Donovan went 1-for-3 with two RBI to lead the way for the Jackets.

Virginia threatened in the bottom of the first as Jessica Taylor bunted the first pitch she saw from Yellow Jacket hurler Jessica Sallinger, reaching safely after second baseman Aileen Morales could not handle the throw at first. Taylor moved to second with an Elea Crockett walk. Georgia Tech quickly got two outs when Sallinger got Sara Larquier to pop out to first baseman Kirin Kumar in foul territory and then Kumar gunned down Taylor trying to advance to third. Jenn Wynn walked and Lindsay Preuss was hit-by-pitch to load the bases, but Sallinger struck out Whitney Holstun to end the inning.

Georgia Tech began the top of the second with a double to the gap in right center off the bat of Amy Hosier. Hosier advanced to third after a groundout to second base and would later score off a grounder by Katie Donovan as Hosier slid in safely just beating out the throw to the plate by Crockett. With two outs, the Yellow Jackets added to their lead as Kumar hit an RBI double to center field scoring Donovan from second.

Virginia made some noise in the third as Crockett and Larquier got on base with a walk and a single, respectively. Sallinger loaded the bases as she hit Wynn on a 3-1 count. The Yellow Jackets' senior pitcher would fight back closing the door on the Cavaliers with a pair of strikeouts and a foul pop out.

Georgia Tech extended its lead to 3-0 as Katie Donovan hit an RBI double to left center scoring pinch runner Kristina Hull from first. Donovan would move to third on the play off an errand throw by Preuss at shortstop. Virginia's Erin Horn replaced Cavalier starter Coty Tolar in the circle and retired the next two batters she faced.

The Yellow Jackets made a pitching change in the sixth as Sarah Wood entered the game replacing Sallinger in the circle. Sallinger worked five innings allowing no runs on three hits, while striking out nine and walking five. Wood picked up the save for her second of the season as she closed the door on the Cavaliers in relief. Tolar earned the loss going 3.1 innings giving up three runs on six hits. Horn did well in relief pitching 3.2 innings allowing no runs on only one hit and two strikeouts.

With the win Georgia Tech moves to 48-12 on the season and will play in the finals of the ACC Softball Championship on Sunday, May 15 at 12:00 pm. The loss runs Virginia's record to 31-31 and will next face the winner of the Maryland/Virginia Tech game scheduled to start later tonight at 7:30 pm.