THE FLATS – Georgia Tech softball and coach Aileen Morales announced the 56-game 2023 regular season schedule on Friday, highlighted by 33 home games and four Atlantic Coast Conference series at Mewborn Field. The Yellow Jackets will also host three home tournaments, most notably the ACC/B1G Challenge, as well as a pair of SEC schools, including this season’s edition of Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate.
Georgia Tech enters its sixth season under coach Aileen Morales, bringing back 18 returners from last season’s squad. Chief among the notable returners is NFCA Southeast Second Team All-Region and First Team All-ACC catcher Emma Kauf. The ACC’s two-time top catcher in the league is joined by a dynamic duo of right-handers in the circle in Blake Neleman and Chandler Dennis as well as the “walking web gem” serving as Tech’s vacuum in the middle, shortstop Jin Sileo. Also returning from last season’s regular starting lineup is leadoff mainstay and third baseman Mallorie Black along with ACC All-Freshman Team left fielder Auburn Dupree and fellow former freshman center fielder Ella Edgmon.
The stable of returners is bolstered by the Yellow Jackets’ recent recruiting class, composed of six highly-touted new Jackets. The class consists of five newcomers joining the collegiate ranks along with Texas A&M transfer Cayden Baker, who carved out a starting role with the Aggies while batting .261 as a freshman in the SEC.