March 2, 2007

Softball

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SYCAMORES STING NATIONALLY RANKED GEORGIA TECH/SPLIT ON FIRST DAY AT BUZZ CLASSIC

ATLANTA – With Day 1 of the Buzz Classic in the books the Sycamore’s now stand at (1-1) in pool play after a victory over #21/24 Georgia Tech before falling to Centenary (LA). Pool play continues Saturday as the Sycamores are set to meet Lipscomb at 10:00 a.m. followed by a 7:00 p.m. game against New Mexico.

 

Game 1:

Indiana State vs. Georgia Tech

 

Indiana State began play at the Buzz Classic at 2:00 p.m. at the Twin Creek Softball Complex with tournament host #21/24 Georgia Tech. This marked the second ACC opponent for the Sycamore’s so far this season, going (1-1) against ACC member N.C. State.

 

Junior Darcy Wood pitched another gem as she went all 7.0 innings giving up only 1 run on 4 hits while striking out 8 Yellow Jackets. Sophomore Tiffany Johnson was sent to pitch for Georgia Tech as she went for a complete game (6.0 innings) giving up 3 runs on 4 hits with 7 strikeouts.

 

The Sycamore offense got it rolling in the 1st inning as they accumulated 2 runs in the games first frame. Sophomore Meredith Simpson got it going as she walked to get on base and advanced to third after a passed ball followed by a single off the bat of Senior Jackie Chomicki. Another passed ball scored Simpson from third and moved Chomicki over to third before she was brought home by Freshman Audrey Childress who earned the RBI while grounding out.

 

The game was brought to (4-0) in the Sycamore’s favor as Chomicki sent a single into left field driving in Senior Julie Damico from second base in the 5th inning and Childress belted her second homerun of the season over the center field fence in the 6th inning.

 

The Yellow Jacket’s upset Darcy Wood’s, now (5-3) with a 1.50 ERA, shutout bid in the bottom of the 7th as Senior Kristina Hull sent a homerun over the left field fence with 2 outs. It would have been the first time in the last 133 games that a pitcher went for a complete game shutout against the Yellow Jackets had Wood kept that run off the board.

 

Chomicki went (2 for 3) at the plate for the game with one run and one RBI. Childress went (1 for 3) at the plate with one run and two RBI’s with her homerun.

 

This was the second ranked opponent that the Sycamore’s have defeated thus far this season, the other being N.C. State who was ranked #22/23 at the time.

 

Indiana State 4 (8-3, 0-0 MVC)

#21/24 Georgia Tech 1 (16-3, 0-0 ACC)

 

 

Game 2:

Indiana State vs. Centenary (LA)

 

After the win over #21/24 Georgia Tech the Sycamore’s looked to continue their winning ways as they met Centenary (LA) for a 5:00 p.m. game in continued pool play at the Buzz Classic.

 

The Sycamore’s started the game with Freshman Megan McCurdy on the mound in a battle against fellow freshman, Stacy Whitmer of Centenary. McCurdy would only go 2.1 innings in this game as she allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on 6 hits before giving way to Sophomore Katie Armour who came into the game for a relief appearance. Armour would last 1.2 innings, giving up 3 runs (none earned) on 2 hits, before Junior Darcy Wood was called into the game to stem the tide as she did not allow another run thereafter.

 

The Sycamores would strike first in this game as Senior Jackie Chomicki singled to center driving in Freshman Meredith Simpson, who had just ripped a triple to center, from third. Centenary would match the Sycamores effort in the first as they scored a run of their own to even the score at 1-1 to close the inning.

 

It was the Centenary half of the 4th where the damage was done as they brought around 3 runs on 2 hits courtesy of two costly Sycamore fielding errors. The score was 5-1 when the 4th inning was brought to a close.

 

The Sycamores responded with additional runs in the 5th inning, off the bat of Chomicki; and in the 7th, with Junior Katie Iocoangeli grounding out to bring home Senior Julie Damico.

 

Chomicki had another outstanding performance, accounting for 2 RBI’s while going 1 for 3 at the plate, to lead the Sycamore charge in a hard fought game. With the score ending 5-3 in Centenary’s favor Freshman Megan McCurdy suffered her first loss of the season on the mound, now (3-1) on the season.

 

Centenary 5 (7-9, 0-0 Mid Continent)

Indiana State 3 (8-4, 0-0 MVC)