The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Georgia Tech
Seventh-inning home run lifts Georgia Tech past Softball, 3-2
05.18.2007 | Softball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Georgia Tech junior third baseman Brittany Barnes blasted a leadoff home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to break a 2-2 tie and lift the 17th-ranked Yellowjackets to a 3-2 victory over No. 18 Texas Friday afternoon at the NCAA Gainesville Regional.
The loss dropped the Longhorns to 33-19 on the season and moved UT into the loser's bracket where it will take on Stetson at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, May 19. Georgia Tech's victory improved the Yellowjackets to 54-14 on the year and moved them in to the winner's bracket against the Florida/Stetson winner.
Georgia Tech got on the board early, using three hits and a Texas error in the first to claim an early 2-0 advantage. Shortstop Aileen Morales led off the first with a single through the middle and stole second, before advancing on Caitlin Lever's single and scoring on an error by Brittany Chalk. Jackets' catcher Savannah Brown followed Lever with a double down the leftfield line, scoring Lever to give Georgia Tech a two-run edge.
Horns' starter Meagan Denny retired Kristina Hull on a come-backer line-out for the second out in the first, but the line drive knocked Denny from the game. Freshman righthander Erin Tresselt (11-3) came on in relief of Denny and held the Yellowjackets scoreless for the next 5.1 innings.
The Longhorns offense got things going in the fifth, using a leadoff double by freshman leftfielder Brittany Chalk to start the rally. Sophomore third baseman Kelly Melone followed with a walk, before centerfielder MicKayla Padilla advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Chalk then came home on a wild pitch by Jackets' starter Tiffany Johnson, narrowing the GT lead to 2-1.
Senior first baseman Jacqueline Williams kept the Texas offense going in the sixth, hammering a game-tying one-out home run to right centerfield that knotted the score at 2-2. Chalk added a single in the inning, but she was stranded on first when the Horns' rally ended.
Tresselt suffered the loss for the Longhorns, after scattering four hits -- including the game-winning blast -- in 5.1 innings of work. Georgia Tech starter Tiffany Johnson (17-6) went the distance for the Yellowjackets, tossing a complete game five-hitter, while walking four and striking out five.
Williams and Chalk anchored the Texas offense on the day, posting a pair of two-for-two, one-run performances. Chalk made her first career start in the game and her double in the fifth marked her first career extra-base hit.
POSTGAME NOTES
- Starting pitcher Meagan Denney was hit by a line drive with one out in the bottom of the first. She made the out, but was relieved by Erin Tresselt.
- Freshman Brittany Chalk made her first career start, getting the nod in left field. She picked up her second career hit and first extra base hit with a double in the top of the fifth. Chalk singled to left in the sixth inning to record her first career multi-hit game.
- With a solo home run in the sixth inning, Jacqueline Williams has safely hit in eight of her last nine games.
- Prior to Friday's games, Texas and Georgia Tech have previously met on just two occasions in 2006, with the Longhorns winning both contests.
- With a leadoff single to start a two-run first inning, Georgia Tech leadoff batter Aileen Morales broke a 0-for-14 streak.
- Georgia Tech starting pitcher Tiffany Johnson made her second start since April 8. Johnson picked up her first win since April 21.
- Brittany Barnes' walk-off home run for the Yellow Jackets was her second of the season.
TEXAS POSTGAME QUOTES
Head Coach Connie Clark: We knew that Georgia Tech could hit, that there aren't a lot of pitches they see that they don't like, and we saw that in the first inning. Our game plan for pitching was to stretch the plate and the Georgia Tech hitters took advantage of that. Erin gave us a great opportunity to win that game. Jackie's just been on fire for us so today we moved her up in the line up. I think we were in the game the whole time, but ultimately you have to give Georgia Tech's hitters credit. We'll get back to work and get some rest and come back out tomorrow to get the result we want.
Senior Jacqueline Williams
On hitting a home run: I was just looking for my pitch and not the pitcher's pitch. I took two strikes and was just looking for a ball I could drive and it went out.
Freshman Erin Tresselt
On the Georgia Tech offense: I have to give credit to Georgia Tech's hitters. I went out there trying to stretch the plate and threw some good pitches, but the last one wasn't a terrible pitch, but she just drove it.
GEORGIA TECH QUOTES
Head Coach Sharon Perkins: This was a great team effort and battle all the way through to the end. We had strong pitching for the whole game and our hitters never backed down, so it's a great win. We'll do some scouting tonight.We've never seen Stetson but we played Florida earlier in the season. We'll just play our game and get out there and pick the pitcher we need to throw and make it happen tomorrow.
Sophomore Tiffany Johnson
On her pitching outing: I just tried to calm down and keep my composure and I think I did a good job of that.
On her wild pitch: What really happened was that one of those Florida bugs that fly around attached to each other (love bugs) flew in my eye so I closed my eye!
Junior Brittany Barnes
On hitting a walk-off home run: I wasn't actually (thinking of ending the game). When I was in the dugout before, I thought it'd be pretty cool if I hit a walk-off. But I didn't go up to the plate that way; I was just trying to get on base. The first pitch I saw was my pitch and I took it.
