A pair of weekend invitationals hardly proved inviting for 2 SEC softball powers, as No. 3 Georgia fell to Virginia 5-4 whereas No. 5 Tennessee stumbled in opposition to Cal State-Fullerton 11-2
Here is a have a look at how each top-5 upsets went down:
Pinch-hit hero leads Virginia Tech previous Georgia
Trailing by a run with simply 4 outs remaining in her staff’s bid to upset No. 3 Georgia, Virginia Tech supervisor Pete D’Amour wager on Trinity Martin to pinch hit, a sophomore with simply two profession hits to her title. Martin’s lengthy odds dwindled additional as she fell right into a two-strike gap, however she managed to activate an inside fastball, depositing a 2-RBI single into proper discipline that led VT to a 5-4 upset win in Athens.
Virginia Tech’s afternoon began off simply as brightly, with Addy Greene driving the sport’s sixth pitch of the sport effectively over the right-center wall to offer the Hokies an early lead. Cori McMillan emphatically gained a seven-pitch duel with one other dwelling run the subsequent inning, and the Hokies held onto a 2-1 lead by way of 4 innings. Georgia’s high-powered offense lastly punched again within the fifth, nevertheless, as Emma Lemley’s glorious outing crumbled with three walks and a 2-RBI base knock from UGA’s Sydney Kuma.
Martin’s single the subsequent inning restored Virginia Tech’s lead at 4-3, and one other Greene dwelling run helped the Hokies fend off a late Bulldog rally.
Cal State Fullerton crushes No. 5 Tennessee
TOTO GOES YARD!! #TusksUp | @FloSoftball pic.twitter.com/NJUwSO5rIi
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) February 24, 2024
Day 2 of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Basic provided legendary highs and historic lows for No. 5 Tennessee, as Karlyn Pickens tossed an ideal recreation in opposition to Loyola-Marymount in its first recreation earlier than stumbling 11-2 to Cal State Fullerton later within the afternoon.
The Titans have picked off a good few high-major foes in recent times, most just lately downing Florida final season, however dealt a historic beatdown to the Vols Friday — Tennessee had not surrendered double-digit runs to a non-conference foe in additional than two years. Tennessee’s mojo on the bump continued into their second contest Friday, retiring the primary six Titan batters so as with 5 strikeouts. Fullerton surged in entrance the next inning, nevertheless, as some opportunistic base-running arrange an important 2-RBI single from Jazmin Williams, giving the Titans a 3-1 lead.
Fullerton would tack on three extra the subsequent inning, in the end surging to the 11-run mark after simply six innings and forcing a surprising mercy-rule upset over No. 5 Tennessee.
