Georgia Tech Softball: Jackets Falls 1-0 to #5 Georgia

CONSUELO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - AUGUST 20: A Close up of tattered baseballs and softballs the players use to practice with on August 20, 2003 in Consuelo, Dominican Republic. Consuelo, which has ten programs for youths to learn and play baseball, is about 50 miles east of Santo Domingo. Of the ten programs, two provide housing for the players. One of which is Latin Baseball Academy, which was set up ten months ago by Luis Silvestre, a taxi driver in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
CONSUELO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - AUGUST 20: A Close up of tattered baseballs and softballs the players use to practice with on August 20, 2003 in Consuelo, Dominican Republic. Consuelo, which has ten programs for youths to learn and play baseball, is about 50 miles east of Santo Domingo. Of the ten programs, two provide housing for the players. One of which is Latin Baseball Academy, which was set up ten months ago by Luis Silvestre, a taxi driver in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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The Yellow Jackets hosted 32-4 Georgia in a midweek clash of in state rivals. Georgia sneaked away a 1-0 win.

This game was the definition of a pitcher’s duel. Georgia Tech had the first big opportunity with pinch runner Sydney Stavro at 3rd with 2 gone. Draven Sonnon hit what appeared to be a RBI single to right but it was hit hard enough for the Bulldog right fielder to get it in and throw out Sonnon at first to keep the Jackets off the board. Later in the game Emily Anderson faced down a bases loaded situation and got Cortni Emanuel to ground into a fielder’s choice to end the inning. The difference in the game was one pitch that was just too much over the plate that Georgia’s shortstop Alyssa DiCarlo hit out of the park to left field.

Tech had the lead off runner aboard in 3 of the 7 innings tonight and for the most part did a good job of moving them over, the timely hit just eluded them in each scoring opportunity they had. The Jackets drew 4 walks against Brittany Gray who came in with just 19 walks the entire season. In the 7th with one out Kelsey Chisholm was able to keep the inning alive with a ground ball that took a bad hop on DiCarlo and hit her in the face, she would recover however as she turned a Kaylee Ellebracht hit up the middle into a 6-3 double play to end the game.

There’s not a ton of room for moral victories in sports but if there ever was one it would be here. The Jackets went toe to toe with one the best teams in the country and constantly put pressure on Gray, who has the 2nd best ERA in the country. Emily Anderson pitched a gem of a game and Tech made several tremendous plays on defense. It’s one of those games that has to reinforce the idea that if they play at that level they’ll be in position to beat everybody remaining on their schedule. The team’s mental reaction this game has to be positive heading Jack into ACC play.

Next: Baseball: Xzavion Curry wins ACC Pitcher of the Week

The Jackets start a stretch of road games this weekend as they travel to play Duke Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.