Jackets Sweep Cavaliers in Doubleheader, Morales Surpasses 200 Career WinsJackets Sweep Cavaliers in Doubleheader, Morales Surpasses 200 Career Wins
Softball

Jackets Sweep Cavaliers in Doubleheader, Morales Surpasses 200 Career Wins

Georgia Tech outscored Virginia 15-1 across two games on the way to a 2-0 start to the series

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

Game Two

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