Georgia Tech Softball Takes Down Virginia, 4-3 and 7-5

Release from Georgia Tech Athletics:

Senior Katie Johnsky went 5-for-8 with two homers to lead the Georgia Tech softball team (9-12, 2-3 ACC) past Virginia (4-16, 1-4) in a doubleheader, 4-3 and 7-5, Saturday. The Jackets go for the series sweep with a single game Sunday at 12 p.m.

“I am so proud of how we competed from the first pitch today.” Head coach Shelly Hoerner said. “We pitched by committee and they did a great job.  I thought our hitters did a better job today of executing with runners in scoring position.  Samantha Pierannunzi continues to be a very productive leadoff for us which is key. Katie Johnsky’s composure at the plate is why she is hitting so well, and I’m very proud of her.”

Game 1: Georgia Tech 4, Virginia 3
Johnsky led the Jackets going 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. The Jackets out-hit the Cavaliers, 10-6, and scored one run in each of the first four innings.

A leadoff single from Samantha Pierannunzi opened the first game and she swiped her fourth base of the season to put herself in scoring position. With one out, an RBI-single courtesy of Johnsky down the right field line scored Pierannunzi to give Tech a 1-0 lead.

In the second inning, Draven Sonnon drew a walk and scored from first on a double hit by Maddie Lionberger – her fourth double of the season.

The Jackets tacked on their third run in the third inning thanks to a solo home run by Katie Johnsky to right center, marking her first four-bagger of the season. Tech scored its final run in the fourth after Lionberger drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a sac bunt from Chelsie Thomas, who leads the league in that category, and scored on a blooper single by Johnsky.

Georgia Tech pitcher Kylie Kleinschmidt took a no-hitter into the fourth inning until a single through the middle scored pinch runner Iyana Hughes to put the Cavaliers on the board.

Virginia cut Tech’s lead in half, 4-2, with a two-out solo shot to center in the sixth inning and pulled within one, 4-3, with another home run in the seventh frame, but Kleinschmidt fanned the final batter to end the game.

Kleinschmidt (2-6) earned the win, pitching a complete-game with 12 strikeouts. Andie Formby (4-8) was pinned with the loss, sacrificing four runs on 10 hits.

Game 2: Georgia Tech 7, Virginia 5
With Pierannunzi and Thomas on the corners, Tech executed a double steal to score its first run. Johnsky smacked her first triple of the year and Courtney Ziese roped her fourth double on the season to plate a pair of runs, giving Tech a quick 3-0 lead.

Ziese scored on a Virginia miscue and Karly Fullem’s fourth double on the year brought in Jessica Kowalewicz to give Tech a 5-0 lead in the opening frame.

Virginia scored its first run in the bottom of the same frame thanks to a leadoff triple by Allison Davis and an RBI single thanks to Danni Ingraham.

Tech plated an additional run in the second to take a five-run lead, 6-1. Johnsky’s bat stayed hot with her second home run of the day, stretching Tech’s lead to 7-1.

The Cavaliers mounted a come-back with three runs on three hits in the sixth inning and one run in the seventh, but the Jackets fielded a double play to end the seventh for the 7-5 win.

Biggerstaff (4-2) earned the win, pitching 6.0 innings with 10 strikeouts. Emily Anderson earned her first career save, pitching the last inning.  Virginia’s Allison Davis (0-3) suffered the loss, allowing five runs on four hits.