SPORTS Technique • March 5, 2010 • 21

Baseball from page 24 right-hander Brandon Cumpton a comfortable win. took the mound for the Jackets as After losing the irst two games Sophomore second baseman they took on Xavier in the second of the series, Xavier handed Tech Jacob Esch hit an RBI double in game of the series. Cumpton shut their irst loss of the season 7-6. the seventh inning to retake the down the Musketeers allowing Tech looked like they were in lead, but Xavier tied the game only one hit in seven shutout in- control of the game early when again the eighth with one run of nings. Plagman hit a two-run homer to of three diferent Tech pitchers. Tech also used a huge day of- right-center, but Xavier answered Burnette doubled in the bot- fensively en route to a 15-0 win. in the second inning with an RBI tom of the eighth inning and Tech had 15 hits in the game com- ground-rule double by Phil Bauer. Leonida drove him in with a sin- pared to the Musketeers’ two, and Garofalo extended his hot gle to give Tech the lead going into ive of those hits were home runs. streak by singling to left ield in the ninth. Skole was the irst Jacket to hit the bottom of the third to score Junior pitcher Kevin Jacob a homer in the game, and it came Dietrich from third base. Garofa- came in to close out the game and in the third inning. It was only a lo later scored a run in the ifth in- gave up a leadof single to start solo homer but it gave the Jackets ning to give the Jackets a 4-2 lead. the inning. Two more Musketeers a commanding 4-0 lead. Skole Tech’s starting pitcher sopho- would get on base and just when it inished the day 3-for-4. more Jed Bradley allowed Xavier looked like Tech would blow the Junior centerielder Jef Row- to get the bases loaded with no lead, Jacob got a huge strikeout for land hit another home run for outs to start the sixth inning. Hall the irst out in the inning. Tech in the bottom of the ifth elected to pull Bradley and dive With the bases still loaded, to make it 5-0. It was his second into his bullpen, but Xavier scored Xavier left ielder Bobby Freking homer of the season. four runs on four hits of of four hit a liner back up the middle that Tech was already in control of diferent Tech pitchers. hit of Jacob’s leg and bounced to the game thanks to their ofensive Photo by Caleb Phillips / Student Publications Leonida hit a homer for the Dietrich. he shortstop ired the output and Cumpton’s work on Tony Plagman swings during a game at Russ Chandler Stadium. Jackets in the seventh inning, cut- ball to second for one out and the mound, but they still tacked Plagman hit .300 for the weekend and had a homer on Sunday. ting Xavier’s lead to one, but Tech Esch threw it to irst for a game- on 10 runs in the sixth inning. Di- was never able to re-gain the lead. ending double play. etrich and Esch both hit two-run defensively today. I’m happy for Senior second baseman Jason Tech was scheduled to host “We were lucky to win. I don’t homers in the inning to fuel the him; he had to sit and watch a lot Garofalo added a home run later Western Carolina on Tuesday, think we played very well [and] big inning. last year and is getting a chance to in the game and freshmen pitch- March 2, but the game was post- I don’t think we pitched [well] “Jacob [Esch] is a good player play now and is taking advantage ers Luke Bard and Clay Dalton poned due to bad weather. As of enough,” Hall said. and is playing real well. I thought of it,” said Hall courtesy of ram- did not allow Xavier to score in Wednesday, March 3, no make up On Saturday, Feb. 27, junior he made a couple of real nice plays blinwreck.com. the inal two innings giving Tech game has been announced.

www.nique.net 22 • March 5, 2010 • Technique SPORTS

Women’s from page 24 Men’s from page 24 seniors, forward Brigitte Ardossi Booker, putting the Tigers in Men’s Tennis beats Georgia State, and center Tifany Blackmon. front 20-19. Ardossi was a solid forward for he Jackets responded, though, Women’s falls against top-10 foes Tech for three years before emerg- building a 28-22 lead with 6:58 ing as a star this season. Her 15.8 remaining. Again they were un- By Alex Mitchell and Nishant the number one position and won Fighting Irish. Tech upset then- points per game ranks fourth in able to maintain the diferential, Prasadh a rare 1-2 match as his opponent No. 4 Notre Dame 4-3 at home the ACC and her 7.5 rebounds per and the Tigers hit some key three- Assistant Sports Editor / Sports Editor Calvin Kemp retired after only on March 14, 2009. game puts her at ninth in the con- pointers to tie the score at 32 with three games. Tech won the irst-light dou- ference. 4:32 left in the half. he Tech men’s tennis team Juniors Eliot Potvin and bles match as sophomore Irina Blackmon has seen her minutes he teams continued to ight hosted in-state rival Georgia State Miguel Muguruza needed three Falconi and junior Sasha Krupina decline over the past two seasons, for the advantage, tying three on Saturday, Feb. 27 and took sets each to defeat their opponents edged Notre Dame’s Kristy Frill- but in 2006-07 and 2007-08 she more times in the remaining min- down the Panthers 7-0. Mean- but their wins gave the Jackets a ing and Kristen Rafael 8-7. he was a key reserve in Tech’s front- utes, but Clemson guard Andre while, the women’s tennis team 4-0 lead. With only seven possible Irish won the other two doubles court. She recorded a combined Young hit a long three as time ex- traveled to the Midwest to play a points, Tech’s lead meant that matches though, taking the point. 30 blocks over those two seasons. pired to thrust the Tigers on top pair of top-10 opponents; the No. they had secured the victory over he irst singles match to in- Both players were in the start- 44-41 headed into halftime. 14 Jackets fell 4-3 against No. 7 the Panthers. ish saw No. 1 Falconi cruise to a ing lineup on Friday. It marked Clemson continued to shoot Notre Dame and 6-1 at No. 2 Tech’s bottom three players 6-0, 6-2 win over No. 23 Frill- Blackmon’s irst career start. well from beyond the arc, and Northwestern. still played well and won their ing to even the score. Tech senior he game itself was a back-and- their ofensive attack proved too In men’s play, the Jackets had matches. Junior Dean O’Brien Amanda McDowell and sopho- forth afair that saw 10 ties and 17 much for the Jackets in the sec- little trouble taking down the vis- won his match 6-4, 6-0, and more Hillary Davis dropped their lead changes. Tech pulled out to ond. he Tigers opened the peri- iting Panthers. freshmen Magin Ortiga and Spir matches in straight sets, though, a 19-10 lead with just over eight od with eight straight points, and Tech swept all three doubles defeated their opponents to give and the Irish took a 3-1 lead. minutes to go in the irst half and by the 14:45 mark they had gone matches including an 8-1 victory the Jackets a 7-0 sweep. Sophomore Viet Ha Ngo kept led 27-24 at halftime. ahead 66-48. by the team of sophomore Kevin he women’s team irst faced Tech in the match with a third- he second half was a tense Although they were able to cut King and freshman Juan Spir. Notre Dame, looking to pick up light 6-4, 6-4 victory over Chris- battle in which neither team led into the lead several times, Tech In singles, King played from their second straight win over the tine McGaigan, but sophomore by more than four until the end. was not able to bring themselves Lynn Blau’s loss on court ive Ultimately, Ardossi’s 18 points back within single-digits, and secured Notre Dame’s victory. and junior guard Alex Montgom- Clemson maintained control of Krupina’s win over Shannon Mat- ery’s 20 points and 15 rebounds the game to seal the 91-80 win. thews meant that Tech picked up led Tech to the 64-57 victory. Both teams shot well, but the wins in the top three singles lights “We made history tonight...22 Jackets were unable to overcome but lost the match as a whole. wins in the regular season, that’s the Tigers’ 44 percent mark on Against Northwestern, doubles never been done before [at Tech]. three-point shooting. Entering play followed a similar pattern. A irst round bye in the ACC Tuesday’s game, Tech was No. 2 Falconi and Krupina picked up an Tournament, never been done be- in the nation in opponent ield 8-6 victory over Elena Chernya- fore,” said Head Coach MaChelle goal percentage, allowing oppos- kova and Samantha Murray, but Joseph. ing teams to hit just 37.5 percent the Wildcats won the other two Sunday’s regular-season inale of their shots, but the Tigers took matches to take the point. did not go so well for Tech. he advantage of their open three- he Jackets had less luck in Jackets committed 26 turnovers– point attempts. singles play than they did against including 18 in the irst half, he Jackets had four players in Notre Dame. Falconi was the only when they scored just 16 points. double-igures on the night, led by Tech player to win her match, de- Ardossi’s 18 points and 11 re- Rice with 17 points. feating No. 12 Maria Mosolova bounds was not enough, as Tech “Clemson just had a really 6-4, 6-4 on court one. Krupina, shot just 32.7 percent from the great shooting night tonight,” Ngo, Blau and Kilborn each lost ield in the 51-45 loss. Hewitt said after the game, cour- in straight sets, while McDow- “I’m just very proud of our tesy of ramblinwreck.com. ell was forced to retire midway team and what we’ve accom- Tech heads home this week- through the second set. plished over these last four years. end for their inal game before he men’s team faces UNC- I can’t...think that this is the end the ACC tournament to face Vir- Wilmington at home on Sunday, because it’s not. We still have...the ginia Tech. he Jackets will look Photo by Blake Israel / Student Publications March 7. he women’s team re- ACC Tournament and the NCAA to break even in ACC play as they Kevin King lines up for a return at the Bill Moore Tennis Center. turns to action at home on Satur- Tournament,” Ardossi said. host the 22-7 Hokies. King and Juan Spir won in doubles play as Tech swept the match. day, March 6 against North Texas.

The economy sucks. Free pizza rations on Tuesdays.

7 p.m., Flag 137, Technique SPORTS Technique • March 5, 2010 • 23 Softball wins four at NFCA Leadof Classic By Alex Mitchell Assistant Sports Editor shorts On Feb 26-28, No. 11 Tech Men’s Swimming softball traveled to Columbus, Ga. for the NFCA Leadof Classic. takes 5th at ACC Tech won four out of ive games in the tournament, falling 2-0 Championships against Nebraska but also defeat- ing No. 18 Louisiana-Lafayette. he men’s swimming team in- Against Central Florida on Fri- ished ifth at the ACC Champi- day, junior pitcher Kristen Adkins onships in Chapel Hill, N.C. last threw a one hit shutout to defeat weekend from Feb. 24-27. UCF 1-0. Adkins needed only 65 Senior Gal Nevo led the way pitches to shut down UCF and for the Jackets, winning the 200- win her third game of the season. IM and the 400-IM while setting he only run in the game came an ACC record in the 200-ly of the bat of redshirt senior sec- with a time of 1:43.43. ond baseman Jen Yee in the third Sophomore Nigel Plummer inning. Yee hit a solo home run to and junior Sullivan Lynch both centerield, her sixth of the season. placed in the top ive in the 50- In their second game of the day free. Freshman Eric Chiu took Tech took on Nebraska, and their ifth in the 100-ly, and Tech’s ofense did worse than they did teams in the 400-medley relay against UCF. and the 400-free relay each in- he teams were involved in a ished in ifth place. pitchers dual for the irst six in- Tech will now begin preparing nings. Freshman pitcher Hope Photo by Jarrett Skov / Student Publications for the NCAA Championships in Rush only allowed ive hits Jessica Weaver receives a throw at the plate during a game at Mewborn Field. The Jackets won four Columbus, Ohio on March 25-27. through the irst six innings while out of ive games in the weekend tournament, including a victory over No. 18 Louisiana-Lafayette. striking out four. Nebraska’s Rob- Hockey wins two in Mackin shut down the Jackets the game and pitched well, allow- to score. A Rush RBI single made Kristine Priebe hit a sac-ly to put by only allowing three hits. ing one earned run and struck out it 3-0 in favor of the Jackets. the Jackets on the scoreboard. against Emory to Nebraska won the game in ive in ive innings. In the sixth inning, Yee hit a Kuzma then bunted home a run, the top of the seventh when Rush On Sunday, Tech faced No. 18 two-run homer that plated We- and freshman designated player close out season walked two batters and allowed Louisiana-Lafayette in a battle of seman and then Yee got another Caitlin Jordan added an RBI sin- an RBI single and a sac ly. ranked teams. RBI in the seventh to give Tech a gle to pull the Jackets within two. Tech’s ice hockey team inished Tech inally found their ofense Rush pitched well again and commanding lead. he two teams traded runs for its season with a pair of wins over on Saturday against Arkansas, re- only gave up one run on six base In their last game of the Clas- the remainder of the game until Emory on Feb. 26-27. Tech won bounding with an 11-2 win. hits. She went 2-4 from the plate sic, Tech needed eight innings to the Jackets inally took the lead in 10-5 on Friday night and 8-2 on Tech hit ive home runs in the including two RBI in route to a beat Iowa 9-8. the eighth inning thanks to a two- Saturday night to inish the year game to defeat the Razorbacks in 7-1 Tech win. Rush pitched both games on run double by Weseman. 10-16 overall. only ive innings. Yee went 3-for-3 Rush’s only blemish came in Sunday and against Iowa she had In the bottom half of the Sophomore center Ben Gartner in the game, hitting two two-run the second inning when the Ca- three strikeouts and only two of frame, Iowa got a quick single and was the star on Friday, recording a homers. Sophomore shortstop juns used two inield singles and a the eight runs were earned. Tech committed its sixth error of hat trick as the Jackets notched a Kelsi Weseman also had a three- stolen base to score one run. Tech started the game of slop- the game putting the Hawkeyes season-high 10 goals and picked run home run in the bottom of Tech scored their irst runs pily with four errors through the within one run, but they couldn’t up the victory. the third inning batting from the of the game in the third inning irst three innings of the game and get the tying run. Saturday’s game was Senior leadof spot. Sophomore leftield- when they loaded the bases with Iowa led 5-0. Yee’s performance earned her a night, and lone senior Steven Putz er Kate Kuzma added a two-run two outs. Yee hit a grounder to the he Jackets managed to get third consecutive ACC Player of scored a breakaway goal late as homer in the inning to give Tech ULL shortstop. Her throw went two runners into scoring position the Week award. She hit .545 with Tech cruised in the season inale. a commanding 9-0 lead. wide of second base for an error with no outs to start the fourth six homers and a 1.364 slugging Junior winger Jeremy Spafard Adkins hit a home run later in and it allowed two Tech runners inning, and junior irst baseman percentage last week. added two goals and an assist. [email protected] Hitting the road Technique Sports Editor: Nishant Prasadh The softball team headed to Colum- 24 bus, Ga. for the 2010 NFCA Leadof Friday, Assistant Sports Editor: Classic, winning four of ive games423 March 5, 2010 Sports Alex Mitchell W-Basketball Baseball wins two of three vs. Xavier splits last two conference games

Photo by Caleb Phillips / Student Publications Photo by Kelvin Kuo / Student Publications Brandon Cumpton pitches from the mound in Saturday’s game at Russ Chandler Stadium. Cumpton shut down Sasha Goodlett puts up a layup over a defender Xavier’s lineup in his start, pitching seven shutout innings and allowing just one hit while striking out four batters. against UNC at Alexander Memorial Coliseum. By Alex Mitchell Drew Schmidt to lead of the inning. catcher Cole Leonida, and junior des- By Nishant Prasadh Assistant Sports Editor Ben homas then delivered a double ignated hitter homas Nichols doubled Sports Editor to give the Musketeers two runners in to deep center ield scoring Leonida and In their second weekend series of the scoring position with only one out. A giving the Jackets a 3-1 lead. A split of its last two games of the season was season, the Jackets welcomed the Xavier ground out scored Schmidt from third, McGuire tight roped out of a huge enough to earn Tech’s women’s basketball team a Musketeers to Russ Chandler Stadium. but McGuire was able to avoid a huge inning again in the sixth. homas hit irst-round bye in the ACC Tournament. Tech took Tech was undefeated coming into the inning by getting another ground out to a sacriice ly ball after two singles to down North Carolina 64-57 on Friday, Feb. 26 on series, but were only able to win two of end the inning. score one run for Xavier, and Ryan Bel- Senior Night but fell in the regular-season inale the three games against Xavier. Junior shortstop Derek Dietrich led lamy added another RBI single to tie the against N.C. State 54-46 on Sunday, Feb. 28. Junior right-hander Deck McGuire of the bottom of the fourth inning with game. Xavier had a chance to take the he Jackets inished the regular season 19-9 took the mound on Friday, Feb. 26 and a single. Xavier pitcher Nate Mutsch lead with runners on base but McGuire overall, with an 8-6 mark against ACC opponents. pitched well in only his second start of then hit senior irst baseman Tony Plag- managed to get a full count strikeout to hey have earned the No. 4 seed in the conference the season. hrough the irst three in- man with a pitch giving the Jackets two end the inning. tournament and will play either Wake Forest or nings, McGuire only allowed two sin- runners on base with no outs. “[McGuire] pitched out of trouble Miami in the second round on Friday, March 5. gles and had two strikeouts, including Junior right ielder Chase Burnette today. I wouldn’t say he had his best he Feb. 26 game served as Tech’s Senior Night, a three-pitch strikeout to end the irst singled to left, scoring Dietrich. Sopho- day, but he kept us in the game and did and before tip-of the Jackets honored their two inning. more third baseman Matt Skole then hit his job,” said Head Coach Danny Hall. McGuire ran into trouble in the top a sac-ly to score Plagman from third. See Women’s, page 22 of the fourth inning when he walked Mutsch then hit another Jacket, junior See Baseball, page 21 Men’s Basketball takes down BC, fades late at Clemson By Kyle Conarro point edge heading into the break. least four of those turnovers should’ve Staf Writer Another Shumpert layup followed been shot attempts by him...[but] you’d by a jumper by freshman forward Glen rather have a guy who wants to get his A week after losing to Maryland on Rice, Jr. put the Jackets ahead by 11 teammates involved than a guy who is a buzzer-beating three, the Jackets took to open the second. From there, Tech taking bad shots.” the court at Alexander Memorial Coli- maintained their lead for the majority Another positive sign was the Jack- seum this past Saturday, Feb. 27 to face of the period. ets’ quality efort from the free throw Boston College. Tech shot 52 percent Eagles’ guard Reggie Jackson hit a line. hree of the four players who got from the loor and went 11-for-12 from three with 10 minutes to play to pull his to the stripe hit 100 percent of their the free throw line on their way to a team within 9, but a dunk by freshman shots, and the team’s 91.7 percent for 73-68 win. hree days later, the Jack- forward Derrick Favors and a three- the game was their best all season. ets headed up to South Carolina to face pointer from Shumpert quickly dashed “It was a good win, and now we just Clemson, this time losing 91-80. the Boston College comeback, putting got to get ready to play against Clem- he loss puts Tech at 7-8 in the ACC Tech up 59-45 with 8:28 remaining. son,” Hewitt said after the game. and 19-10 overall with one game left. he Eagles came within single-digits In the Clemson game, Tech’s road Against Boston College, the Jack- three more times over the next eight woes continued. hey stayed close in ets looked polished. A three-pointer by minutes, but each time the Jackets re- the irst half, but the Tigers were able to sophomore guard Iman Shumpert gave sponded to maintain their comfortable pull away in the second, rallying behind Tech a 3-0 lead to start the game, and advantage. the noisy crowd present for their inal they never looked back. Despite shoot- Although BC hit three consecutive home game of the season. ing 50 percent from ield goal range, the shots in the last 14 seconds of play, they he teams battled for the edge Eagles were unable to mount a consis- were unable to top the Jackets in time, early in the irst, swapping leads three tent enough attack to take the lead from giving Tech the 73-68 win. times in just over ive minutes of play. the Jackets. Shumpert was Tech’s top scorer on A jumper by Favors at the 11:06 mark By the 9:24 mark, the Jackets had the day, shooting 10-for-16 and notch- gave Tech a ive-point advantage, but built a 10-point advantage, going up 24- ing 24 points. He also led the Jackets in they were unable to pull away. 14 on a jumper by senior forward Zach- the turnover column, though, with six Clemson stole the lead back just ary Peacock. BC cut the lead to three in the game. one minute later behind back-to-back Photo by Adebola Adedire / Student Publications on a three-pointer from forward Joe “When he’s good, he’s really good,” buckets by brothers Devin and Trevor Iman Shumpert drives to the basket in Saturday’s Trapani, but Peacock and Shumpert hit said Tech head coach Paul Hewitt. game. Shumpert had 24 points in the win over BC. consecutive layups to give Tech a seven- “Obviously the six turnovers, I think at See Men’s, page 22