University of Georgia Athletics
Iosefa, Wilkinson Almost Perfect
March 30, 2016 | Softball
By John Frierson
UGAAA Staff Writer
Georgia Tech could barely make contact with Chelsea Wilkinson's pitches Tuesday night at Jack Turner Stadium. Tina Iosefa, meanwhile, twice made perfect contact and took the Yellow Jackets deep.
The two Georgia softball seniors were the stars of the ninth-ranked Bulldogs' 5-0 win over Tech, extending the Dogs' streak against their rivals to seven straight wins. Georgia (30-5) has now won 12 of the last 13 against Tech, improving to 27-11 all-time against their in-state rivals.
Tuesday's game began on a flat note, but it worked out just right for Wilkinson. Tossing several oh-so-close pitches she walked the first batter she faced, Tech's Samantha Pierannunzi, and then spent the next 90 minutes mowing down the Yellow Jackets (13-20).
In 5.0 innings of work Wilkinson faced 16 batters, one above the minimum. She struck out 11 of them, mostly swinging, and the only Tech player to reach first base was Pierannunzi on that leadoff walk. Wilkinson said once she figured out the home-plate umpire's strike zone during that first at-bat, she was in "game mode" the rest of the way.
"I hate giving up walks and giving up free bases, but at the same time it didn't hurt us," said Wilkinson, who improved to 16-2 this season. "Once I gifted out his strike zone, I knew where to put the ball."
Eleven strikeouts is a season-high for Wilkinson, who struck out 10 Minnesota batters on March 6. Her career best is 15, a mark she needed 13.1 innings to hit last May. She may have reached it Tuesday if she'd stayed in the circle the whole game.
For the season Wilkinson is up to 116 strikeouts, in 101.2 innings pitched, and her 11 Tuesday moved her into second place on Georgia's all-time list with 794. And though strikeouts are fairly routine for the veteran ace, they're always appreciated.
"It's definitely cool and I always feel like I'm helping my defense out," Wilkinson said. "If the ball's not in play, they don't have to make a play on it."
Iosefa is hitting a lot of homers — she leads the SEC with 12 and has 44 for her career — and like Wilkinson with her strikeouts, each one feels really good. So Tuesday's twofer, the fifth two-homer game of the Lynwood, Calif., native's fine career, was twice the fun.
"It's always a thrill, just because you get to celebrate at the plate with your teammates every single time," Iosefa said, adding that she "put a good swing" on both of Tuesday's homers in a 2-for-3 outing.
Heading into the bottom of the fourth inning, with Wilkinson having struck out nine of the 13 batters she'd faced, the game was scoreless as Iosefa led off the frame. Not for long. The right-handed batter smacked an Emily Anderson pitch well over the left-field wall.
It was the start of a three-run inning that was ample support for Wilkinson and reliever Kylie Bass, who allowed a hit and struck out four in 2.0 innings.
But Iosefa wasn't done yet. In the fifth she drove an Anderson pitch over the wall in straight-away center field, pushing the Dogs' lead to 4-0.
Iosefa's best career numbers coming into this season were a .350 batting average (last season), 14 home runs (2013) and 43 RBIs (twice). Through 35 games in her final season, the senior is hitting .400 with 12 homers and 49 RBIs. Talk about finishing strong.
"I'm definitely just having more fun this year and not letting the results define me," she said.
Iosefa has had a lot of fun against the Yellow Jackets. In seven career games versus Tech, she now has five home runs, nine hits and 13 RBIs. She'll get one more crack at them, on April 13 in Atlanta.
John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
