Why Sage Mardjetko was prepared to send Tennessee softball back to WCWS
Junior pitcher Sage Mardjetko pitched an "absolutely incredible" game to send Tennessee softball back to WCWS with 2-1 win over Georgia.
There wasn't a more fitting way for Tennessee softball pitcher Sage Mardjetko to end a potential rally by Georgia in the NCAA super regional. With two outs in the sixth inning and two runners on base, Mardjetko painted the bottom outside corner of the strike zone with her signature 48 mph changeup. Her pitch left Georgia's Bailey Lindemuth staring at the plate for her eighth strikeout of the game.
Mardjetko ripped off her mask as she stomped towards catcher Elsa Morrison, yelling and pumping her fist through the air before chest-bumping Morrison. There were three more outs separating the No. 7 seed Lady Vols from a repeat trip to the Women's College World Series.
But after Mardjetko's momentum-killing strikeout, there was no doubt about the outcome. When Emily Digby of Georgia opened the seventh inning with a triple and later scored on a wild pitch, there was no waver in Mardjetko, who struck out the next batter. Tennessee (47-10) finished the job for a 2-1 win over the No.
10 seed Bulldogs (41-20) at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium on May 22, and it will be one of eight teams in the Women's College World Series. Sophia Knight hit a home run for the second straight game , and the two-out, two-run shot to right field in the second inning held up. The Lady Vols will face the winner of No.