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Neleman, Minghini Propel Tech Over Saint Joseph’s, Villanova

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Saint Joseph's Box Score Villanova Box Score Season Stats

THE FLATS – Georgia Tech softball opened the 2022 season without a blemish, cruising past Saint Joseph’s 4-1 and topping Villanova 5-2 in the first day of the Buzz Classic on Friday at Mewborn Field.

Junior slinger Blake Neleman stole the show in game one as she tossed a career-high 13 strikeouts, fanning 12 Hawks, in a complete game effort allowing just one hit. Minghini, meanwhile, burst onto the scene in her first day of collegiate play as she led the team going 3-for-5 with a dinger and a double for five RBI along with a pair of walks and runs scored through both contests.

Game One: In a pitcher’s duel early, Tech (2-0) and Saint Joseph’s (0-2) remained in a stalemate until the top of the fourth. The Hawks broke things open with a solo shot over center, but the Jackets answered with a run of their own as Minghini, who reached base on a walk, made her way home on an RBI single off the bat of sophomore shortstop Jin Sileo. After a quiet top of the fifth by Saint Joseph’s, the White and Gold struck again and sophomore designated player Sara Beth Allen brought home senior outfielder Ariella Jackson with a sacrifice fly. Minghini subsequently sent in sophomore third baseman Mallorie Black to give the Jackets a 3-1 advantage. Freshman outfielder Ella Edgmon put the nail in the coffin in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI triple to left center for her first hit as a Yellow Jacket, driving in senior second baseman Bailee Zeitler before Neleman shut the door on the Hawks in the top of the seventh.

Game Two: Georgia Tech got going early against Villanova (1-1), putting a pair of runs on the board thanks to a Minghini two RBI single. The timely hit scored junior catcher Emma Kauf, who had led off with a single, and Black. Junior newcomer Chandler Dennis held her own in the circle in her first appearance for the White and Gold, keeping Villanova at bay as Tech further built on its lead. Edgmon came through for the Jackets once again with a sacrifice fly to score Zeitler in the bottom of the fourth for a 3-0 Tech lead, followed by Minghini’s exclamation point on the day in the form of a two-run bomb over left field. The Wildcats would make a last ditch effort to draw within range using a two-run homer of its own to trim the lead, but Dennis would close out the inning for her own complete game and a 5-2 Georgia Tech victory to cap off the night.

Game Notes

  • Neleman’s career-high 13 strikeouts surpassed her previous high of 12 against Penn State during her freshman year in 2020.
  • Along with belting the only homerun on the day for the Jackets, Minghini led the team in RBI (5) while tying for the most on the squad in hits (3) and runs (2).
  • The Jackets had two triples on the day as Edgmon and Kauf tied last season’s total on the year on the first day of the season.
  • Georgia Tech totaled 15 hits and nine RBI on the day while both pitchers maintained a 1.29 ERA in their first starts of the season. As both heaved complete games, they totaled 21 combine strikeouts in 14 innings pitched.
  • Despite teams pitching around senior first baseman Tricia Awald as she drew three walks, Awald still batted .500 on the day as she went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a run scored.

Up Next

Georgia Tech will return to the field for day two of the Buzz Classic, facing the same opponents in Villanova at 12:30 p.m. and St. Joseph’s at 3:30 p.m. All games throughout the Buzz Classic will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra.

Mutlimedia

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 Annual Athletic Scholarship Fund, which directly provides scholarships for Georgia Tech student-athletes. To learn more about supporting the Yellow Jackets, visit atfund.org.   

For the latest information on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, follow us on Instagram (@GaTechSoftball), Twitter (@GaTechSoftball), Facebook (Georgia Tech Softball) or visit us at www.ramblinwreck.com.

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