THE FLATS – Georgia Tech softball (12-8) upset No. 18 Auburn (20-3) with a walk-off, 2-1 victory thanks to freshman catcher Reese Hunter’s game-winning home run on Wednesday at Mewborn Field. In a low-scoring affair, Hunter launched her second career home run with one down in the bottom of the seventh to propel the Yellow Jackets to their first ranked triumph of the season.
Senior hurler Blake Neleman held the Tigers in check from the circle, nearly tossing a complete game as her gem included seven punchouts and just one run allowed in 6.2 innings of work. Fellow senior right hander Chandler Dennis struck out the only batter she faced in what proved to be Auburn’s final chance at the plate, receiving credit for the win to move to 7-3 on the year.
Both sides controlled the game from the circle most of the day as neither squad allowed a run to cross the plate through the first five innings. Auburn broke the stalemate in the top of the sixth with a solo home run, but Georgia Tech answered in the bottom half as sophomore second baseman Grace Connelly followed junior shortstop Jin Sileo’s leadoff double with an RBI single to even the tally. Entering the seventh locked at 1-1, Neleman and Dennis shut the door on the Tigers in the top of the frame, priming Hunter for her walk-off rocket to secure the Jackets’ 2-1, upset victory over the 18th ranked Tigers.