February 14, 1999 Release: Upon Receipt

FURMAN SOFTBALL SPLITS WITH GEORGIA TECH

GREENVILLE, South Carolina -- The Furman softball team split a doubleheader with Georgia Tech Sunday at Varsity Field, winning the first game 1-0 before dropping game two 8-1.

Sophomore Ashley Rayl pitched a complete game shutout, giving up just four hits and striking out four to earn her first win of the season. Second baseman Saskia Gazenbeek scored the lone Lady Paladin run in the third inning after reaching base on a double. Gaxenbeek advanced to third on a single by Rayl and scored on an Erin Keen single. Georgia Tech pitcher Mimi Utt doubled in the bottom of the fourth, but Rayl sat down the next three batters to escape the inning unharmed.

In game two Jackets pitcher Jamie Smith gave up just two hits in seven innings work and was backed up by a strong offensive Georgia Tech effort. Yellow Jacket left fielder, Heather Sumrow, scored three runs, Lauren Schwartz scored two, and Beth Warren, Ellen Styer, and Jamie Frost each scored one to give Tech an eight run total. Georgia Tech struck early, scoring two runs in the first off two hits and a Lady Paladin error. Inning two was much the same, as Tech again scored twice off two hits and a Furman miscue. The Lady Paladins held Tech scoreless in the top of the third, and pitcher Chrissy Hacker scored the lone Furman run when she reached base on an error by Techıs Ellen Styer, advanced to third on a Melissa Hutton groundout, and scored on an error by the Jacketsı first baseman, Abby Bickford.

With the split, Furman moved to 1-3 on the year, while Tech stands at 2-2. The Lady Paladins will host USC-Spartanburg on Wednesday, Feb. 17, in a 2 p.m. matchup.