STARKVILLE, Miss. – Georgia Tech softball (8-2) shut down Mississippi State, 4-1, in the final game of the Bulldog Kickoff Classic on Sunday afternoon at Nusz Park, cruising to victory after shutting out the Bulldogs through the first five innings. Junior pitcher Blake Neleman was lights out through the day, tossing her fifth complete game for a victory this season behind 12 strikeouts while allowing just one run on three hits.
Following a three-inning stalemate, the Yellow Jackets got on the board in the top of the fourth. Graduate senior first baseman Tricia Awald led off the inning with a single to deep left center, allowing freshman pinch runner Madison Dobbins to make her way around the bases and come home on an RBI single by Tech’s RBI leader, freshman right fielder Emma Minghini.
The Jackets inched further ahead in the following frame as sophomore shortstop Jin Sileo landed on base thanks to a Bulldog miscue and was pushed home by three walks behind her. Leading 2-0 going into the top of the sixth, Tech used its plate discipline and one hit to tack on two more runs to the advantage. After a leadoff walk to start the inning, freshman second baseman Grace Connelly singled to left and was brought home on a pair of walks. With the bases still loaded, a hit batter nudged home Sileo to extend the Jacked lead to 4-0.
Mississippi State (5-6) avoided the shutout with a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth, but Neleman would close things out from there, resulting a 4-1 Georgia Tech triumph.
Game Notes
- The victory over Mississippi State marked the first SEC win for Georgia Tech since downing No. 11/13 Kentucky in 2020.
- Neleman was one punchout shy of tying her career high of 13 strikeouts, which she set in the season opener against Saint Joseph’s.
- After action in just six games, Neleman already owns five complete games, half as many as she tallied through the 2021 season.
- On the year, Neleman has maintained a sub 1 ERA with a .95 to date, piling up 53 strikeouts while allowing just 10 runs through 36 2/3 innings pitched.
- Neleman has allowed no more than one earned run in every game she’s pitched this season.
- The White and Gold did damage by committee at the dish as four different Jackets each picked up a hit in Awald, Black, Minghini and Connelly. Among those picking up RBI were Awald, Black and Minghini, along with junior catcher Emma Kauf.
- Awald has gotten a hit in every game this season. The veteran slugger is batting .593 this season with 16 hits, five doubles, two home runs and nine RBI for a 1.000 slugging percentage and a .725 on-base percentage.
Up Next
Georgia Tech will return home for an eight-game homestand beginning with Furman on Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Mewborn Field. The game will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra.
Multimedia
🥎𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐀𝐘🥎
🆚: Mississippi State
⏰: 1⃣1⃣ a.m. CT
📍: Starkville, Miss.
🏟️: Nusz Park
📈: https://t.co/VxdjRPpS55#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/ygLpA7yIMj— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) February 20, 2022
A little Sunday softball coming your way 🔜#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/N0v1FX8Jfh
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) February 20, 2022
Who else feels that breeze❔😏@blakeneleman strikes out the side in the opening frame, fanning all 3⃣ batters 👋
Tune in on SEC Network+
📺: https://t.co/yBM7ldNNbs#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/IHT7XoEd9j— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) February 20, 2022
🅺 counter: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
That's 7⃣ sit-downs in 3⃣ innings of work for @blakeneleman 🥵#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/2FDUSjkT50
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) February 20, 2022
We warned 'em🤷♀️
When you let @emmaminghini step to the plate with runners in scoring position, she drives in runs. Jackets take a 1⃣-0⃣ lead❕#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/EnEYWoIyhN
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) February 20, 2022
Filthy 😷
Tune in on SEC Network+
📺: https://t.co/yBM7ldNNbs#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/W1j4QUjGDb— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) February 20, 2022
✌️ for the Jackets❕@JinSileo makes her way home to extend the lead 👏#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/pMbHh4ilip
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) February 20, 2022
Strolling further ahead 🚶♀️@grace_connelly3 singles and is pushed home along with @JinSileo after back-✌️-back walks and a hit batter❕
Tech ⬆️4⃣#BeGold // #404Institute pic.twitter.com/FmE1lehSH4
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) February 20, 2022
⛽️⛽️⛽️ https://t.co/49MEhObtM2
— Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (@GTAthletics) February 20, 2022
Heat check: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
1⃣1⃣ punchouts now for @blakeneleman through 6⃣ 😳#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/JnC9X88E89
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) February 20, 2022
𝗕𝗟𝗔𝗞𝗘. 𝗡𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗠𝗔𝗡.
Do we really need to say more❔#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/65FxbQFEei
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) February 20, 2022
🎙: Another stellar day with 1️⃣2️⃣ K’s for @blakeneleman‘s fifth complete game win this season, but all the credit to the team.#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/T2zNWeonlF
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) February 20, 2022
It ✨ just ✨ means ✨ more✨ https://t.co/ejQL7QSQdS
— mallorieblack (@mallorieblack1) February 20, 2022
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