ROCK HILL, SC— The Winthrop softball team couldn't overcome the powerful offense of Georgia Tech as it dropped a double-header to 26th-ranked Georgia Tech, Tuesday evening at Terry Field.
Georgia Tech pounded out seven home runs in the two games as it won game one 12-2 and game two, 10-4. With the double-header sweep, Georgia Tech improves to 25-5 overall while Winthrop falls to 7-20.
The Yellow Jackets used a six-run fifth to rally from a 4-0 deficit and earn its 25th win of the year. The inning was highlighted by a grand slam off the bat of Kristine Priebe.
Starting pitcher Ashleigh Jackson ran into trouble in that inning with one out. Hope Rush singled to lead off and was relieved of her running duties by Kelly Delashmit. Then Jackson got Jessica Sinclair to pop up to Megan Chapman in shallow left field. Delashmit stole second and then Jackson walked Ashley Thomas with the fourth ball making its way to the back stop to move Delashmit over to third. Jackson walked the next batter to load the bases. Kate Kuzma laid down a soft bunt, catching the Eagles defense off guard and everyone was safe as Delashmit crossed home plate for the first run. Jackson then got Shannon Bear to line out to Chapman at short and it looked as though she made a double-play to end the inning, but Christy Jones was called safe at second as she slid back.
Georgia Tech took advantage and drew a bases loaded walk and then Priebe stepped up and cleared the bases with her 11th homer of the year.
The Eagles managed one run in the second and third innings for an early lead on the Yellow Jackets. Brittany Stoudemire reached on a single off the pitcher and then Kathryn Eberlin reached on an error by the third baseman. Stoudemire recorded the first out of the inning as she was caught too far off the bag and nailed in a rundown. After Chelsey Schoenfeldt walked, Veronica Berrie came through with two outs as she doubled to left field to score Eberlin and put Winthrop in the lead. Georgia Tech ended the threat with a diving catch down in foul territory in left field as Shannon Bear extended out to catch dipping ball off the bat of Teja Durante.
In the third inning, Chapman reached on a bunt single to get things going for Winthrop. After being moved over to second on a sacrifice by McKenzie Corn, Jackson hit a soft single to left allowing Chapman to score from second. However, Jackson tried to reach second on the throw, but it was cut off by the pitcher and she was gunned out at second.
With one out in the fourth inning, Winthrop got things going after three straight batters reached to load the bases for Durante. Durante lined out to second as the infield was drawn in for the second out. Then Chapman took a 2-2 pitch and guided it into center field, scoring two runs and putting Winthrop up 4-0.
Jackson took the loss as she allowed six runs on five hits with three walks and two strikeouts in five innings and is now 2-7 on the year.
Rush earned the win for the Yellow Jackets by allowing three earned runs on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts and is now 10-3 on the year.
Georgia Tech opened up the first game in the top of the sixth inning as it posted three runs for an 8-0. The Yellow Jackets used two homers to increase their lead as Alysha Rudnik hit a solo shot to center field and then two batters later Jessica Sinclair hit a two-run shot to left center.
Winthrop avoided the eight-run rule in the bottom of the six by scoring two runs. Berrie started things off as she singled up the middle to lead-off. Berrie moved to second on a sacrifice by Durante and then Megan Chapman singled off the out reached arm of Kelsi Weseman at short to put runners at first and third. Chapman then moved over to second as Georgia Tech elected not to throw to second and then Jackson came through with a soft single to left field, scoring both runners.
Georgia Tech took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second as Rush came through with a chopper up the middle with runners at second and third.
Winthrop looked to cut into the lead in the second inning as Stoudemire reached on a walk, but Schoenfeldt grounded into a double play.
In the fourth inning, the Yellow Jackets made it 4-0 as Shannon Bear led things off with a double ripped to the gap in left center. Bear came around to score when Durante's throw to first base ripped past her and past the catcher into the Winthrop dugout. Priebe then followed with a single through the right side that scored Weseman from third.
Trailing 5-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Eberlin reached on an error with one out to get things going and that was followed by Schoenfeldt reaching on an error to put runners at first and second. Kelly Blea stepped up and lined a ball toward the left field line, but Rudnik reached up and snagged the ball at third base and threw over to second for the double play.
After the Eagles cut the lead to 8-2 after six innings, Georgia Tech tacked on four more in the top of the seventh. Kuzma led off with a double and scored on a single through the right side by Weseman. That was followed by a three-run homer by Priebe over the right field fence.
Schoenfeldt suffered the loss as she falls to 2-6 on the year as she allowed three earned runs on seven hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
Georgia Tech's Kristen Adkins earned the win as she tossed six innings allowing two runs on four hits with a walk and four strikeouts and improved to 11-2.
Priebe finished the day with five hits and eight RBI while Rush had four RBI on three hits.
Chapman was 3-for-7 on the day with two runs and two RBI. Berrie finished the day 3-for-5 with a run and RBI as she also extended her hitting streak to six games.
Winthrop will remain at home as it will host Akron Saturday, March 26 in a double-header beginning at 1 p.m.
