It was the first game of Boston College softball’s three-game series against Georgia Tech, and the team was down 7-2 in the top of the fourth inning. Georgia Tech’s Karly Fullem stepped up to the plate and blasted the pitch past the left field wall, bringing home the two runners on base and herself. The umpire instated the mercy rule, and the game ended 10-2 after just four innings.
The Eagles found themselves in a precarious situation against a team they had swept just a year prior, being beaten by mercy rule with two more games to go.
“We just put that first game in the rearview mirror and pushed forward,” head coach Ashley Obrest said after the Eagles rebounded and won the final two games.
Learning from lessons received in that first matchup against Georgia Tech, the Eagles won the next two, 1-0 and 5-2, respectively.
Much of this came from a pitching change. Obrest opted for Allyson Frei to go in the second game, and the freshman pitched a complete shutout. With nine total strikeouts, and just two hits allowed, Frei lifted the Eagles to victory while also completing her 12th shutout of the season.
“She was back to her old self that she was in the beginning of the year,” Obrest said. “She had really good command of all of her pitches, was breaking the plane. She kind of went out there and threw like she was mad.”
BC’s single run came on an infield single from Chloe Sharabba, who drove in fellow freshman Annie Murphy.
With the series tied 1-1, Frei started again on the mound for the Eagles in the finale. She fought off runners in the first inning, but it was the offense that had an impressive initial inning. Beginning with a solo home run from Murphy, the Eagles attacked Jackets pitcher Kylie Kleinschmidt. Following Murphy’s home run, Tatiana Cortez recorded her sixth home run of the season. Cortez brought Chimento and Sharabba with her, and BC rounded out the first inning with a 4-0 lead.
That was Cortez’s second home run of the series—her first came in the first game, and was responsible for BC’s lone two runs. Obrest commented on her ability to read good first pitches and maintain good aggression at the plate.
From there, the Eagles held a lead that they did not let up. Georgia Tech made a pitching switch in the second inning, bringing in Christina Biggerstaff, but it was too late to keep Georgia Tech in the game.
Frei continued her pitching dominance, she allowed two runs and struck out 11. She improved her record to 14-12 on the season.
Georgia Tech’s two runs came from a sacrifice fly in the third inning and a home run in the seventh that just passed over left fielder Annie Sommers’ glove.
BC’s fifth run came after Taylor Coroneos was walked with the bases loaded. With a full count and two outs, Coroneos vision at the plate scored Annie Murphy.
The Eagles now have a .500 record of 19-19, while Georgia Tech dropped to 16-31.
Photo Courtesy of Keith Swindell
