Over the final days of 2021, ramblinwreck.com is revisiting the top moments of the year for each Georgia Tech team. Below is a look back at the Yellow Jackets’ 6-0 victory over Syracuse in the first round of the ACC tournament in which Blake Neleman tossed her first career no-hitter.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Georgia Tech softball (20-25, 11-19 ACC) advanced to the Quarterfinals of the 2021 ACC Championships with a 6-0 win over Syracuse (20-24, 12-20 ACC) thanks in large part to a no-hitter by slinger Blake Neleman on May 12 at Ulmer Stadium. A second-year freshman, Neleman dealt all game on the way to her first career no-hitter. The no-no marked the fourth in Georgia Tech postseason history and fourth individual no-hitter in ACC Championship history.
The Jackets kicked off the tournament with a bang as junior utility player Breanna Roper led off the game crushing a solo shot over the right-field foul pole. Both pitchers took control beyond that until the sixth inning as Georgia Tech erupted for five more runs. The Orange first walked the bases loaded, setting up another pair of RBI for Roper on a single through the right side. Recently deemed All-ACC First Team and ACC All-Freshman Team catcher Emma Kauf followed Roper by dropping a triple on the left-field line, plating two more. Senior outfielder Crosby Huckabay later put a stamp on the inning with an RBI single into right for a 6-0 Jacket lead. Neleman then retired the side in the bottom of the seventh as she picked up her 12th win on the year with a complete game no-hitter, including nine strikeouts.
2021 ACC Championship First Round vs. Syracuse
May 12, 2021 - Louisville, Ky. (Jermaine Bibb)
Game Notes
- Neleman’s no-hitter marked the 27th in program history. Of those 27, only 12 went seven or more innings and were tossed by only one Jacket.
- Neleman is now the 15th Yellow Jacket in the record books with a no-hitter to her name.
- In the postseason, Neleman is just the second Jacket to heave seven or more innings for a no-hitter.
- Neleman’s no-no is the first for Tech in the postseason since 2010. The Jackets had not tossed a no-hitter in the regular season since 2015.
- Neleman is just the sixth Yellow Jacket freshman to hurl a complete game no-hitter.
- Offensively, Roper led the way going 2-for-4 with a homerun, three RBI and two runs scored.
- Tech has now won six straight games after topping Kennesaw State, sweeping Virginia in a four-game series and blanking Syracuse.
Georgia Tech’s season concluded in a pitcher’s duel with No. 1 seed Clemson, falling 2-0 in the 2021 ACC Championship Quarterfinals.
Multimedia
🥎ACC CHAMPIONSHIP OPENER🥎
🆚: Syracuse
⏰: 1⃣ p.m.
📍: Louisville, Ky.
🏟️: Ulmer Stadium
📺: https://t.co/DjRIXDOwUU
📈: https://t.co/Vnxf2P9Ocg#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/fVgfydxMtB— GT Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) May 12, 2021
📍Louisville, Ky. pic.twitter.com/CBnRoVCXkb
— GT Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) May 12, 2021
Championship views ☀️ pic.twitter.com/6Paf2hjVUe
— GT Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) May 12, 2021
Our starters 👇 pic.twitter.com/BPRCnIgJhs
— GT Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) May 12, 2021
BRE❕😳 We JUST got started😅@b_rope__ with a leadoff 💣 in the first at-bat of the tournament 💥
📺: https://t.co/DjRIXE67Ms pic.twitter.com/8UbV0Kd6s4
— GT Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) May 12, 2021
B1 | First batter, First K 🔥
📺: https://t.co/DjRIXE67Ms pic.twitter.com/fY0jklXIL6
— GT Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) May 12, 2021
.@JinSileo 🏃♀️💨
📺: https://t.co/DjRIXE67Ms pic.twitter.com/ZHjpo03fV4
— GT Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) May 12, 2021
Hey, it's BRE AGAIN❕@b_rope__ shoots one through the infield to put us up 3⃣ 👏👏
📺: https://t.co/DjRIXE67Ms pic.twitter.com/lHg0qnRDU1
— GT Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) May 12, 2021
Make that 5⃣ for the Jackets 🔥@EmmaKauf drops one down the left-field line to score ✌️ more❕
📺: https://t.co/DjRIXE67Ms pic.twitter.com/t2rqGlEmL4
— GT Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) May 12, 2021
We're up 6⃣❕ @crosbyhuckabay drives in another 💥
📺: https://t.co/DjRIXE67Ms pic.twitter.com/L05g9It0dX
— GT Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) May 12, 2021
NO. HITTER. @blakeneleman was UNTOUCHABLE❕
📺: https://t.co/DjRIXE67Ms#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/sZEiMBOC8n
— GT Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) May 12, 2021
PUT ON A SHOW, @blakeneleman❕
That's a NO-NO for Blake as the Jackets advance to the Quarterfinals 🔥🔥🔥#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/6Kxv3ACgE1
— GT Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) May 12, 2021
🎙️: @Coach_A_Mo on the First Round win and @blakeneleman's no hitter 👇
📺: https://t.co/DjRIXE67Ms#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/e5D9GcWXkY
— GT Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) May 12, 2021
🎙️: @b_rope__ postgame thoughts 👇
📺: https://t.co/DjRIXDOwUU#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/lwfxT975L5
— GT Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) May 12, 2021
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