BRIGHTON, Mass. – Georgia Tech softball (26-11, 7-9 ACC) outlasted Boston College (15-18, 2-11 ACC) in a pitcher’s duel for a 3-1 victory in 11 innings on Friday afternoon at Harrington Athletics Village.
Junior hurler Blake Neleman was dominant throughout her time in the circle, tossing nine innings as she dealt 10 punchouts while allowing just one run on four hits. Fellow junior right hander Chandler Dennis closed out the extra inning affair, holding the Eagles scoreless through the final two innings and picking up three strikeouts to earn the win.
Junior catcher Emma Kauf was the most consistent Yellow Jacket at the dish as she went 3-for-6 and scored a run, but sophomore shortstop Jin Sileo picked up Tech’s first RBI before sophomore designated player Sara Beth Allen’s two-RBI single would ice the game.
Following three scoreless innings, the Yellow Jackets climbed aboard first in the top of the fourth. With the bases loaded by way of a pair of walks and Tech’s first hit of the day in a single off the bat of freshman second baseman Grace Connelly, Sileo skipped an infield single to score graduate first baseman Tricia Awald.
Boston College evened the tally in the bottom of the fifth, 1-1, with a sacrifice fly that would prove to be the final run before extra innings.
As both pitchers maintained control in the circle, neither side broke through until the top of the 11th. A Kauf single sandwiched between a pair of walks loaded the bases for Tech, allowing Allen to send a chopper up the middle that drove in a pair. Dennis then took care of business in the bottom half, delivering the Yellow Jackets a 3-1 win over the Eagles to open the series.
Game Notes
- Georgia Tech now owns two extra-inning victories on the season, previously topping Syracuse in nine innings, 2-1.
- The Jackets completed their fifth extra-inning game, the second longest of the season behind a 12-inning marathon against Florida State.
- The White and Gold have won three series openers in ACC play this season.
- The Yellow Jackets have claimed three of the last four contests over the Eagles.
- Neleman’s 10 strikeouts marked her third highest tally of the season.
- Dennis earned her ninth win in the circle this season.
Up Next
The Yellow Jackets and Eagles will continue the series with game two on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Harrington Athletics Village in Brighton, Mass. The game will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra.
Multimedia
🥎𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐀𝐘🥎
🆚: Boston College
⏰: 3⃣ p.m.
📍: Brighton, Mass.
🏟️: Harrington Athletics Village
📺: ACC Network Extra
💻: https://t.co/vD1UvkHcNE
📈: https://t.co/JNnafLCVbr#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/GKoKWE0HT9— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 8, 2022
🏟️📸#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/jVIywyFGhn
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 8, 2022
Out here 😤#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/F8EzXer7ro
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 8, 2022
Showtime 😏
Tune in on ACC Network Extra
📺: https://t.co/vD1UvkYNFc
📈: https://t.co/JNnafLUw2Z#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/BgVCCQ8rP1— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 8, 2022
All we needed 💥🏃♀️💨
Tune in on ACC Network Extra
📺: https://t.co/vD1UvkYNFc#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/f5SCdOZBjL— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 8, 2022
🚫✈️ zone
Don't hit anywhere near @Kennedy_Cowden's direction. Just don't 🙅♀️
📺: https://t.co/vD1UvkYNFc@RawlingsSB x @NFCAorg x @NCAASoftball #SCTop10 /// #RawlingsGoldGloveAward pic.twitter.com/OrWwtH38LD
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 8, 2022
🎱 of these and counting for @blakeneleman 🔥#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/2HDn5kAYJG
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 8, 2022
🐈⬛
📺: https://t.co/vD1UvkYNFc#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/e20PxXpdxf
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 8, 2022
We're through 9⃣ as extras continue 🙃#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/V67DVR5cdC
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 8, 2022
𝗦. 𝗕. 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗬 🤑💵💰
🗣️TAKE US HOME @sballen99❕ She drives in a pair to give us the lead heading into the bottom of the 1⃣1⃣th 👏👏
📺: https://t.co/vD1UvkYNFc#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/V0aMBB2t5X
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 8, 2022
𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗚𝗔𝗠𝗘 💪
📺: https://t.co/vD1UvkYNFc#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/GV8aBS2Wko
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 8, 2022
Love to see it ☝️#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/oXx9N1hyik
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 8, 2022
🎙: A quick byte from @sballen99 on her game-winning ✌️ RBI single#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/AlXgiaTAnk
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 8, 2022
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