SUGAR LAND, Texas – Georgia Tech softball catcher Emma Kauf will take on Team USA in a pair of doubleheaders this weekend after being selected to the Sugar Land roster of Team Alliance as part of USA Softball’s 2021 “Stand Beside Her” tour, presented by Major League Baseball. The Yellow Jacket backstop will be in action Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 7 p.m. ET and Sunday with the final doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. ET. All games will be held at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Texas, home of the Sugar Land Skeeters, the Triple A affiliate of the Houston Astros.
The “Stand Beside Her” tour for Team USA consists of four exhibition games against Team Alliance, which is made up of collegiate and professional athletes supported by the Alliance Fastpitch member leagues. Kauf was selected to the Sugar Land roster among a star-studded lineup including seven NFCA All-Americans, three of which garnered First Team honors in pitcher Montana Fouts (Alabama), catcher Kayla Kowalik (Kentucky) and utility player Aaliyah Jordan (UCLA).
“I am so excited and grateful to get the opportunity to play with and against some of the most amazing women in the game of softball,” said Kauf. “I think it’s going to be a great experience, and I’m so excited to get to meet everyone.”
Kauf is coming off a strong season for Tech as she became the first Yellow Jacket to be named both All-ACC First Team and to the ACC All-Freshman Team in the same year. The Lincoln, Neb. native finished second on the team in batting average (.345), hits (48), doubles (7), homeruns (10), RBI (33), total bases (89) and slugging percentage (.640). She was also named ACC Player of the Week (2/16) for her performance in the season-opening Buzz Classic.
Georgia Tech looks toward the 2022 season after concluding 2021 at 20-26 overall and 11-19 in ACC play. The Yellow Jackets were edged in the Quarterfinals of the 2021 ACC Softball Championship following a 6-0 win over Syracuse in the First Round, including a no-hitter tossed by second-year freshman Blake Neleman.
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