THE FLATS – Georgia Tech softball was edged by Illinois, 4-3, in the final game of the ACC/B1G Challenge on Sunday afternoon at Mewborn Field. After surrendering a two-run lead in the fifth, the Yellow Jackets (4-5) moved the tying and go-ahead runs into scoring position before the Fighting Illini (5-4) made the final out to hang on.
Illinois got on the board with its first at-bat of the game by way of a solo shot. Despite hanging no more runs in the inning, the Fighting Illini would cling to that narrow lead until the top of the fourth.
In Tech’s second opportunity through the order, leadoff right fielder Paige Vukadinovich opened the inning with a triple before senior left fielder Emma Kauf knocked her home. An already hot designated player Sara Beth Allen stepped to the plate next, bolstering her impressive weekend with her third dinger of the weekend and fourth of her career. The two-run blast gave the Yellow Jackets a 3-1 lead they would carry into the fifth.
In the bottom of the frame, Illinois inched back in front behind a pair of RBI singles and a run on a fielder’s choice to slip back ahead, 4-3.
Following a quiet sixth inning, Tech led off the seventh with a single by freshman catcher Reese Hunter. As the inning played out, another single by junior shortstop Jin Sileo and a wild pitch resulted in Tech runners on second and third, but the Badgers shut the door before the Jackets could do any more damage, surviving with a 4-3 win.