ATLANTA -- A run-scoring double by Georgia Tech's Alysha Rudnik in the bottom of the fourth proved to be enough as the Yellow Jackets downed Georgia State, 1-0, Sunday at Tech's Mewborn Field in the final game of the Springfield Suites Buckhead Classic.
Rudnik's double to left center scored Kristine Priebe from first after Priebe reached first on an error by third baseman Megan Kallatsa.
The lone run proved to be all the Yellow Jackets needed as pitchers Hope Rush (6-2) and Kristen Adkins put together a two-hit shutout. Rush went 4.1 innings, allowing a pair of hits and three walks while striking out seven. Adkins earned the save, her third of the season, after hurling 2.2 perfect innings.
The Panthers had a prime opportunity in the fifth inning, loading the bases with All-CAA first baseman Lauren Jones up to bat. The bases were loaded after a walk by Emily Whitaker, a single by Jessica Clifton and a hit by pitch on Whitney Phillips. Earlier in the inning Brenna Morrissey hit a shot to the third baseman that would have easily scored a run but Rudnik caught the hard-hit liner. With Jones up, Adkins forced a groundout to end the inning.
In the second inning GSU almost took a 1-0 lead as Jones took a 1-0 pitch and crushed the ball to the left field fence. However leftfielder Shannon Bear snagged the ball at the top of the wall to deny the Stockbridge, Ga., native her fifth homer of the season.
GSU also had runners on first and third in the third inning after Maddy Stanton singled and Morrissey reached on an error. However, a foul out to the catcher Kuzma by Phillips ended the threat.
The Panthers stranded eight runners on the day, while Tech stranded six.
Those were the only two times GSU reached third base and Stanton and Clifton picked up GSU's only two hits on the day.
For the second time this weekend pitcher McCall Langford (3-7) loses a game without giving up an earned run. Both runs in 1-0 defeats to Penn State and Tech were scored as a result of errors by Panther fielders.
Langford and the Panther defense opened the game on fire, as the first nine outs were all recorded on groundouts. On the game GSU's infielders recorded 11 groundouts.
The Panthers return to action this Wednesday when they travel to Birmingham, Ala., for a game against the Samford Bulldogs at 5 p.m. ET (4 p.m. CT). Last year's contest, which was scheduled to be held on St. Patrick's Day, was rained out at Bob Heck Field. The game will be available via GSU's livestats as well as by following GSU's live blog.
