Pitching Shines in Split Buzz Classic FinalePitching Shines in Split Buzz Classic Finale
Softball

Pitching Shines in Split Buzz Classic Finale

THE FLATS – Georgia Tech softball (2-2) wrapped up it’s season-opening Buzz Classic at an even .500 after splitting a pair of contests with Saint Francis (2-2) and North Texas (4-0) on Sunday at Mewborn Field. The Yellow Jackets bottled up the Red Flash for a 7-0 triumph behind senior hurler Chandler Dennis gem of a complete game one-hitter before falling shy in a 3-1 loss to the Mean Green.

Dennis’ stellar outing in the circle highlighted the day as she compiled eight strikeouts with just one hit conceded through her solid seven innings of work, resulting in her first win of the season. Fellow senior slinger Blake Neleman added six punchouts of her own against North Texas, moving into fifth in program history with 427 career strikeouts.

At the plate, sophomore designated player Madison Dobbins had the most efficient day, going 2-for-3. Junior shortstop Jin Sileo and sophomore second baseman Grace Connelly had the most productive at-bats on the day as both picked up two RBI apiece.

Georgia Tech vs. Saint Francis/North Texas

February 12, 2023 (Glenn Ingram)

Game One: Georgia Tech pulled away early, doing heavy damage in the bottom of the first. Following a pair of leadoff walks by freshman right fielder Paige Vukadinovich and senior catcher Emma Kauf, wild pitches drove in the leadoff run to put the Yellow Jackets on the board. Soon after, sophomore first baseman Bailey Chapin singled through the infield to push home Kauf. Two walks then ensued, allowing a single up the middle courtesy of Sileo to move in a couple more scores for a 4-0 Tech advantage. Dennis kept the Saint Francis bats at bay from the circle as neither side crossed the plate again until the bottom of the sixth. Opening the bottom half with a couple of walks, the White and Gold drove home three more runs on back-to-back singles. Connelly picked up a pair of RBI in the process while freshman catcher Reese Hunter added one of her own to increase the Yellow Jacket lead to 7-0. Dennis closed out the final frame to wrap up her complete game one-hitter for the victory.

Game Two: In a low-scoring affair, North Texas used the longball to climb on top. The Mean Green knocked the first of three solo bombs in the top of the second before going yard in back-to-back at-bats in the top of the sixth. The Yellow Jackets answered in the bottom of the sixth as Vukadinovich reached and made her way to third on a Kauf double, coming home on a sacrifice fly from junior third baseman Mallorie Black. The North Texas held on for the remainder of the contest, escaping with a 3-1 win.

Up Next

Georgia Tech will travel across town to Georgia State for its first midweek contest of the season on Tuesday at 5 p.m. in Panthersville, Ga. Coverage information will be provided here.

Multimedia

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.