Walk-off grand slam sends Georgia Tech past Virginia in doubleheader

ATLANTA -- Freshman Colleen Darragh tallied seven runs batted in with a walk-off grand slam, a two-run home run and an RBI-single to lead Georgia Tech (15-6, 4-4 ACC) to a pair of wins Wednesday against Virginia (3-18, 1-7 ACC) at Mewborn Field. The Jackets defeated Virginia in game one 10-2 in six innings before downing the Cavaliers 3-2 in eight innings, ending a 21-game home stand with a bang.

"Colleen Darragh saw the ball really well and came through in some clutch situations," head coach Shelly Hoerner said. "She stepped up. She doesn't play like a freshman. She did a great job for us. We kept plugging along in the second game; kept chipping away. I'm proud of the girls, especially coming through in the eighth inning."

The Jackets had a 6-2 lead in game one when Tech loaded the bases with no outs, setting up an RBI opportunity for Darragh. Kanani Cabrales reached on a Virginia error, pinch hitter Samantha Pierannunzi walked and pinch hitter Courtney Ziese reached on an infield single.

Darragh, fresh off her first collegiate home run earlier in the game, a two-run bomb over the scoreboard in left, stepped to the plate and rocked a 2-1 pitch to the same spot to give Tech the run-rule advantage.

The last time Georgia Tech hit a grand slam came on April 29, 2012, by Hope Rush in a 5-0 victory against Virginia Tech.

Senior Ashley Thomas went 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI, while Hayley Downs was 2-for-3 with two RBIs.