Amid criticism and frustration over other teams’ struggles in the ACC, Boston College softball hoped to make some noise in league play when it took on Georgia this weekend. The Eagles were so loud, students could hear the smack of the bat all the way in Chestnut Hill. In a three-game series, BC (17-9, 3-0 Atlantic Coast) swept the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (5-14, 0-3) to bring some good ACC mojo back to campus.
On Saturday afternoon, BC hoped to capture the series finale in order to sweep GT. The Eagles wasted no time. In the first inning, with two on, Jordan Chimento rocketed one over the left field fence to give BC an early 3-0 advantage.
BC kept things rolling in the second. Jessie Daulton hit an RBI single, bringing in one. Chloe Sharabba then hit a sac fly to right field to plate one more. But the Eagles weren’t done there. With two on, Tatiana Cortez hit her seventh home run of the season to give her team a commanding 8-0 lead heading into the bottom of the second. In the third, Loren DiEmmanuele stole home to tally one more.
Jessica Dreswick threw five flawless innings for the shutout win. Her complete game effort was only one out shy of a no-hitter. With a 9-0 victory, the Eagles swept the Yellow Jackets in the first ACC matchup of the season.
Earlier that morning, the Eagles looked to claim game two. Knotted at zero in the fifth, BC looked to get on the board first. Daulton reached base on an RBI fielder’s choice that allowed Megan Cooley to cross home plate and put the Eagles up 1-0. But GT answered back.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Yellow Jackets loaded the bases with one out. Kelsey Chisholm hit a ground ball to the pitcher in order to send one home and tie the game. But BC cut them off there. Both teams were deadlocked until the 11th inning, when the Eagles took advantage of their own bases-loaded situation. Carly Severini and Cooley both walked after they were each hit by pitches, bringing two home. Up 3-1 with the bases still loaded, Taylor Coroneos hit an RBI single to bring in Annie Murphy. Dreswick held GT scoreless in the bottom of the ninth in order to clinch the series win with a 4-1 victory.
On Friday, GT opened the series with a strong first inning. With two runners in scoring position, GT hit a sac fly and an RBI single to plate two. The Eagles struggled to cross home until the third inning. With runners on second and third, Daulton reached first on a throwing error that allowed Cooley to score. Another error brought home Danielle Thomas. To keep the momentum going, Chimento hit a sac fly to bring in Daulton. Cortez finished the inning with a RBI double, making it a 4-2 game.
GT got one back in the fourth but was unable to regain the lead. With Murphy on base, Coroneos singled up the middle to increase the Eagles’ lead to 5-2. In the seventh inning, BC decided to tack on three more. Cortez smashed an RBI triple to bring home one before Murphy hit an RBI double to send Cortez across the plate. Carly Severini finished things up with an RBI single to lock in an 8-4 victory after the Yellow Jackets got one back in the seventh.
