May 15, 2005

Box Score | 2005 ACC Championship Central

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The top-seeded Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets captured their second ACC Softball Championship Sunday afternoon at the Terrapin Softball Complex with a 1-0 victory over Virginia Tech. Tournament Most Valuable Player Jessica Sallinger picked up the win in the circle for the Yellow Jackets, going 7.0 innings without giving up a run on two hits while striking out eight. With the win, Sallinger became the all-time, career wins leader in ACC history with 108. Right fielder Caitlin Lever went 1-for-3 in the ballgame including the game-winning, RBI single in the bottom of the fifth.

In the fourth, Hokie right fielder Kelly Brown led off with a walk and advanced to second on a stolen base. Caitlin Murphy reached on a bloop single to left center just beyond the reach of Yellow Jacket shortstop Christine Sheridan. Alisia Narodowski laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving Murphy and Brown to second and third, respectively. Catcher Megan Evans was intentionally walked, her eighth of the tournament, tying an individual tournament record. Sallinger fired back as she struck out first baseman Stephanie Savre for out number two and then got Kathleen Jones to pop out in foul ground to end the inning.

Virginia Tech's Katie Maynard had a no-hitter through 4.1 innings when center fielder Kacey Ivey got the Yellow Jackets first hit with a slap single to the pitcher. Ivey then stole second and moved to third after Kirin Kumar hit a single to the catcher. Aileen Morales could not advance the runners as she recorded a ground out to the pitcher for out number two. Caitlin Lever came through for the Jackets as she registered an RBI single, hitting a dribbler just outside the batters box scoring Ivey for the game-winner.

Maynard pitched well in the loss working 6.0 innings allowing just one run on three hits and striking out four.

With the win Georgia Tech moves to 49-12 on the season, while the loss runs Virginia Tech's record to 43-23.

The ACC will next await word from the NCAA Division I Softball Committee on how many teams will advance to regional play next week. The field of 64 teams will be announced live between 7:30 and 8:00 p.m. tonight, Sunday, May 15, on ESPNews, which is on DirecTV channel 207 and Dish Network channel 142.

2005 All-Tournament Team
(MVP) Jessica Sallinger, Georgia Tech
Angela Tincher, Virginia Tech
Megan Evans, Virginia Tech
Jenn Wynn, Virginia
Nikki Smith, Maryland
Amy Hosier, Georgia Tech
Elea Crockett, Virginia
Christine Sheridan, Georgia Tech
Kelly Brown, Virginia Tech
Kirin Kumar, Georgia Tech
Jessica Aditays, Maryland