THE FLATS – Lexi Ray allowed just two earned runs in 5.2 outstanding innings of work, but Georgia Tech fell in a defensive battle on Saturday to No. 1 Washington, 2-1, in the Buzz Classic at Mewborn Field.
The teams fought in a scoreless ballgame for the first four innings, with Tech coming up with a number of big run-saving plays. The Huskies had a runner on second with two outs in the top of second, when Ray got Kelley Lynch to go down swinging to retire the side. Washington was threatening again in the top of the third with bases loaded and one out, when Tech turned a 1-2-3 double play to end the inning. The Huskies got on the board first with two runs in the top of the fifth, and held onto the lead behind a strong effort from pitcher Gabbie Plain and some big plays on defense.
The Jackets held strong, with freshman pitcher Blake Neleman coming in in relief in the sixth with one on and two outs to get Sis Bates swinging. After Breanna Roper hit a single with one out in the bottom of the seventh, Tricia Awald reached on a fielder’s choice and an error allowed Roper to advance to third. Cameron Stanford drove in Roper to cut the lead in half, but the rally would end there as the Jackets dropped a tough 2-1 decision.
Game Notes
- Freshman Blake Neleman recorded her first-career strikeout when she punched out Bates to retire the side in the sixth.
- Lexi Ray made her first start for Georgia Tech, dealing out two strikeouts while allowing just two earned runs in 5.2 innings.
- Georgia Tech allowed two runs or fewer against Washington for the first time since 2004.
- Tech is 5-1 all-time against tomorrow’s opponent, Ohio. The Jackets enter the game 2-0 at home against the Bobcats, having won its last four meetings.
Georgia Tech returns to the field tomorrow, facing Ohio at 12:30 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
Multimedia
Here come tonight's starters!!! #BeGold pic.twitter.com/kDtukttqVW
— GT Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) February 8, 2020
T1 | Lexi Ray gets the first out of the inning as Flores goes down swinging!! pic.twitter.com/p8zTfIyqvo
— GT Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) February 8, 2020
Tech turns the big 1-2-3 double play with bases loaded to end the third.
Tricia Awald makes an incredible play at first to save extra bases
T6 | That'll be it for Ray who pitched an outstanding game today for Tech with 2 strikeouts and two earned in 5.2 IP – It'll be Neleman in for Tech with two outs
GT – 0, UW – 0
— GT Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) February 9, 2020
T6 | Neleman comes on with one on and two out and gets Bates swinging!!
Due up – Jackson, Cowden, Kauf
GT – 0, UW – 2 pic.twitter.com/ehpCOphBWB
— GT Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) February 9, 2020
B7 | Roper gets on with one out!! Awald next!! pic.twitter.com/ENQECKm2R4
— GT Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) February 9, 2020
B7 | Stanford reaches on the fielder's choice that scores Roper and it's a one-run ballgame!!
GT – 1, UW 2
— GT Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) February 9, 2020
Final | pic.twitter.com/oO7kSrP1U4
— GT Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) February 9, 2020
All of Georgia Tech’s home games, including the remaining game at the Buzz Classic, will be streaming live on ACC Network Extra.
NOTE: ACC Network Extra (ACCNX) programming is available online via the ESPN app or WatchESPN.com. Viewers must subscribe to a cable/satellite/digital provider that carries the ACC Network to view ACCNX programming.
Alexander-Tharpe Fund
The Alexander-Tharpe Fund is the fundraising arm of Georgia Tech athletics, providing scholarship, operations and facilities support for Georgia Tech’s 400-plus student-athletes. Be a part of developing Georgia Tech’s Everyday Champions and helping the Yellow Jackets compete for championships at the highest levels of college athletics by supporting the A-T Fund’s Annual Athletic Scholarship Fund, which directly provides scholarships for Georgia Tech student-athletes, and Athletics Initiative 2020, Georgia Tech athletics’ ongoing $125 million initiative to allow Tech to recruit the nation’s most elite student-athletes, build a better student-athlete once they arrive on The Flats and, ultimately, win! To learn more about supporting the Yellow Jackets, visit atfund.org.
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