Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech softball (17-25) swept Virginia (15-31) in its series-opening doubleheader on Friday at Mewborn Field, downing the Cavaliers 7-1 in game one and 8-0 in five innings in game two. As the Jackets cruised to a pair of dominant victories outscoring Virginia 15-1 on the day, coach Aileen Morales earned her 200th career win after game one and subsequently moved up to 201 career wins after game two.
Game One: Virginia scored the first run of the game in the top of the first with a blooper in the infield that found a hole, but Georgia Tech responded by rattling off seven straight unanswered runs. The Jackets first blow came in the form of a three-run dinger off the bat of junior outfielder Kennedy Cowden in the bottom of the third. Tech came back with three more runs in the fourth as freshman infielder Mallorie Black drove an RBI single to shallow center before senior utility player Breanna Roper hammered a two-run bomb to left center. The Yellow Jackets added one final run in the bottom of the sixth as Cowden furthered her successful day with an RBI double. Sophomore right-hander Blake Neleman then closed things out in the top of the seventh, finishing off her complete game for a 7-1 Georgia Tech win and her 10th win on the year.
Game Two: After a pair of scoreless innings, Georgia Tech drew first blood on Roper’s second two-run homer of the day. A quiet fourth inning followed before the Jacket bats exploded in the bottom of the fifth, scoring six runs to earn the win in just five innings. Tech first loaded the bases with a pair of singles and a walk, setting up senior first baseman Tricia Awald’s second grand slam of the season. Now leading 6-0, the Yellow Jackets loaded the bases once again with a single and a pair of walks, allowing Black to earn an RBI as she drew a walk. Roper then shut the door striking a ball to first that was misplayed, bringing home junior infielder Bailee Zeitler for the game-winning run. Tech came out on top 8-0 for the run-rule victory thanks in large part to senior righty Morgan Bruce’s strong presence in the circle as she tossed her first complete game and first shutout of the season for her second win this year.
Softball vs. Virginia
April 30, 2021 - Atlanta, Ga. (Danny Karnik)
Game Notes
- Coach Aileen Morales, well into her fourth season on the Flats, now holds 201 career wins and 88 wins at Tech.
- The Jackets had four batters hit .500 or better and three batters with four RBI on the day.
- Roper had a strong day at the dish, going 4-for-8 with two homeruns, four RBI and three runs scored. Her pair of longballs moved her into a tie for third on the team with eight homeruns this season.
- Awald now leads the team with 10 dingers after her second grand slam of the season as she finished 2-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored on the day.
- Cowden rekindled her flame from earlier in the year as she went 3-for-5 with a double, a homerun, four RBI and two runs scored through both contests.
- Black had a stellar day from the nine hole, also going 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI and three runs scored.
- The pitching staff was lights out through both games, allowing just one run on 10 hits with 10 punchouts through the day as both starters heaved complete games.
- Neleman tossed her eighth complete game of the season as she tallied eight strikeouts while allowing just one run on five hits for her 10th win on the season.
- Bruce also allowed just five hits, but hurled a shutout with a pair of strikeouts to boot on her way to her second win for her first complete game and shutout this season.
Up Next
The Yellow Jackets and Cavaliers will continue the series with game three on Saturday at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network.
Multimedia
Game One
.@b_rope__ with a leadoff single to get us started 💥
⚔️-1⃣
🐝-0⃣ pic.twitter.com/BGcYTOkrCz— GT Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 30, 2021
3⃣-RUN 💣💣💣@Kennedy_Cowden gives us the lead with her fourth dinger on the year 💪
📺: https://t.co/QrWmGP0PLF pic.twitter.com/ucM5k0hP7u
— GT Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 30, 2021
.@blakeneleman keeps dealing as she fans ✌️ more to move up 6⃣ K's on the day 🔥🔥
📺: https://t.co/QrWmGP0PLF pic.twitter.com/EBvlQQw3oD
— GT Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 30, 2021
GO OFF, @Kennedy_Cowden❕@mallorieblack1 drops one in shallow center, and @Kennedy_Cowden shows off the wheels 🏃♀️💨
📺: https://t.co/QrWmGP0PLF pic.twitter.com/p9e9DpldN9
— GT Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 30, 2021
GONE 👋
.@b_rope__ doing @b_rope__ things. It's casual🤷♀️
📺: https://t.co/QrWmGP0PLF pic.twitter.com/KluOEVpRpQ
— GT Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 30, 2021
HAVE A DAY, @Kennedy_Cowden 🤩
That's an RBI double as she's now 3-for-3 with 4 RBI, 2 runs scored and a dinger 😳🔥🔥🔥
📺: https://t.co/QrWmGP0PLF pic.twitter.com/uJSR4kXgUf
— GT Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 30, 2021
STARTING THE WEEKEND OFF RIGHT❕
Georgia Tech takes game one of the doubleheader over Virginia 👏👏 Game two will follow shortly.#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/iJsFWijT8f
— GT Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 30, 2021
That win marks career #⃣2⃣0⃣0⃣ for @Coach_A_Mo❕Congrats, Coach 👏👏👏 We're proud to have you leading the way 🐝🥎#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/rvNnDVuCkA
— GT Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 30, 2021
Game Two
🚨DEAD-CENTER DINGER🚨@b_rope__ gets ALL of this one driving a ✌️-run 💣💣 into the trees in center❕💪
📺: https://t.co/pjSEni1Gte pic.twitter.com/wk72ZBp9yS
— GT Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 30, 2021
GOT HER 🔥 @JinSileo shows off the cannon to save a run 💪
📺: https://t.co/pjSEni1Gte pic.twitter.com/6lN8P9OCh7
— GT Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 30, 2021
💣GRAND SALAMI💣
"Little did we know she was going to send this one into orbit. Somebody call NASA." 🚀 @TriciaAwald22 knocks a MOON SHOT for her second grand slam of the season 🌕
📺: https://t.co/pjSEni1Gte pic.twitter.com/j47iIEQPoo
— GT Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 30, 2021
🚨ANOTHER W🚨
Georgia Tech wins game ✌️ to sweep the series-opening doubleheader❕🧹🧹 The Jackets and Cavaliers will be back at it at 2 p.m. on Saturday for game three.#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/HClcGGzPym
— GT Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 30, 2021
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