Yellow Jackets Drop to Hornets, 6-4Yellow Jackets Drop to Hornets, 6-4
Softball

Yellow Jackets Drop to Hornets, 6-4

Minghini’s perfect day at the plate and Dennis’ dealing in the circle not enough

Box Score

THE FLATS – Georgia Tech softball (24-21, 6-12 ACC) fell to Alabama State (24-18, 12-6 SWAC), 6-4, on Wednesday night at Mewborn Field. The Yellow Jackets rallied late with three runs in the final two frames, but were unable to make up enough ground to extend the game.

Sophomore designated player Emma Minghini highlighted the day at the dish, going a flawless 4-for-4 with her first dinger of the season and a double for a pair of RBI. The round tripper marked the second of her career as she set a single-game career high with her four hits in the contest.

In the circle, three Jackets made appearances as sophomore slinger Sophia Voyles (2-6) got the start and received the loss. The senior tandem of right handers in Blake Neleman and Chandler Dennis followed in relief, each tossing at least three innings. Neleman picked up six strikeouts during her time on the rubber while Dennis closed things out, allowing no runs on just three hits and tying a season high of eight punchouts.

Georgia Tech vs. Alabama State

April 19, 2023 (Eldon Lindsay)

How it Happened

Alabama State got on the board first, knocking a two-run home run in the opening frame. The Hornets tacked on another pair of runs in the second, scoring on an RBI single and a Tech miscue to take a 4-0 lead.

The Yellow Jackets took one back in the bottom of the fourth, drawing within three as sophomore designated player Emma Minghini pushed a solo oppo taco just inside the left-field foul pole.

Alabama State extended its lead in the top of the fifth, scoring another couple of runs on a wild pitch and an RBI single for a 6-1 advantage.

Georgia Tech continued to battle in the final two frames, loading the bases in the sixth on a pair of walks and a Minghini single. A dinged batter brought the first run of the inning home, and sophomore center fielder Ella Edgmon blooped an RBI single into shallow center to cut the Hornet lead to 6-3.

Down to their final three outs, the Jackets pressed on in the bottom of the seventh as a leadoff walk and a single by junior right fielder Sara Beth Allen put two on with one down. Minghini came through with an RBI double to trim the lead to 6-4 once Tech was down to its last out, but the rally would stop there as Alabama State finished on top.

Game Notes

  • Minghini went 4-for-4 at the plate, setting a single-game career high of four hits.
  • The Rock Springs, Ga., native also blasted her first bomb of the season and second of her career.
  • Dennis tied her season high of eight strikeouts in just three innings of work.

Up Next

Georgia Tech will travel to No. 10 Duke (37-8, 13-5 ACC) for its next ACC competition, beginning the weekend series on Friday at 6 p.m. at Duke Softball Stadium in Durham, N.C. The game will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra.

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