THE FLATS – Georgia Tech softball (30-12, 10-10 ACC) shut down NC State (28-17, 5-12 ACC) on the way to a doubleheader sweep on Friday at Mewborn Field.
The Jackets clinched the series as they took a 3-0 victory in game one before earning a 9-1, mercy-rule victory in six innings in game two. The pitching staff donning the White and Gold held NC State to five hits through the day as the Jacket bats outscored the Wolfpack 12-1 through both contests.
Junior catcher Emma Kauf was flawless on the day, going perfect 5-for-5 at the dish with a double, a triple, an RBI, two runs scored and a pair of walks. Graduate first baseman Tricia Awald had the most impactful day, piling up five RBI as she went 3-for-6 with a two-run home run. Putting forth a quiet, consistent night behind the two big bats was freshman left fielder Auburn Dupree, who went 4-for-6 with a double and three runs scored, also swiping three bags on the day.
Junior hurlers Chandler Dennis and Blake Neleman locked down NC State from the circle, each picking up a win. Dennis tossed the lion’s share of game one for the win, allowing no runs on three hits with seven punchouts through six innings of work. Neleman closed out the first game for the save and claimed game two, heaving seven total innings and surrendering just one run on two hits while tallying nine strikeouts throughout the day.
Softball vs. NC State
April 15, 2022
Game One: The Jackets jumped on top first, climbing aboard on an RBI single by freshman center fielder Ella Edgmon as Dupree scampered home after previously reaching on a double. Tech added a pair of security runs in the bottom of the fifth as Kauf tripled before Awald hammered a two-run shot to dead center. Dennis continued to deal through the sixth before Neleman closed out the seventh to secure Tech’s 3-0 win in game one.
Game Two: NC State added its first run of the day in the top of the first, scoring on a sacrifice fly. Momentum shifted in Georgia Tech’s favor from there as the Yellow Jackets drove in nine unanswered runs.
The White and Gold leaped in front in the bottom of the second as sophomore catcher Sandra Beth Pritchett and Dupree led off with back-to-back singles, setting up sophomore third baseman Mallorie Black for a two-RBI double.
Tech tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the fourth in four consecutive at-bats. Edgmon first made her way home on a wild pitch, followed by Dupree speeding home on a fielder’s choice. Kauf and Awald then knocked back-to-back RBI singles to increase the lead to 6-1.
Awald came through with timely hitting once more in the fifth, knocking a single that would plate two more runs. Freshman Bailey Chapin later stepped in to pinch hit in the sixth, driving in the final run to lock up the 9-1, mercy rule game two victory, also clinching the series.
Game Notes
- The Yellow Jackets have won nine games by mercy rule this season.
- Tech clinched its fourth ACC series win of the season.
- Georgia Tech has won five of its last six games.
- Awald hammered her 42nd career home run as she went yard for the sixth time this season, tying the team lead.
- Kauf picked up her second and third games without a blemish at the plate on the season as she went 2-for-2 with a double and a triple in game one before going 3-for-3 in game two.
- Five Jackets batted .500 or better on the day.
- Dennis and Neleman each earned their 12th win of the season on the day, while Neleman also added her third save of the year.
Up Next
Georgia Tech will wrap up the series with the finale against NC State on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Mewborn Field. The game will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra.
Multimedia
🥎𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐀𝐘🥎
🆚: NC State (DH)
⏰: 3⃣ p.m. | 3⃣0⃣ minutes following
📍: ATL
🏟️: Mewborn Field
📺: ACC Network Extra
💻: https://t.co/46zr4FRUD6
📈: https://t.co/MvsA3g0s9D | https://t.co/9XYA9k9pdB
🎟️: https://t.co/4Gk2eSTh2H#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/wBKrVSZkxU— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 15, 2022
🧵🆚🐺#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/bTiIMDmsdr
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 15, 2022
Lined up for our first of the day ☀️
Tune in on ACC Network Extra
📺: https://t.co/46zr4G9vuE
📈: https://t.co/MvsA3fIQL3#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/GXzbwW9fqw— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 15, 2022
Looks can be deceiving 😉
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📺: https://t.co/46zr4G9vuE#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/QyM6YDqYBj— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 15, 2022
𝔻𝕆𝕌𝔹𝕃𝔼 𝕋ℝ𝕆𝕌𝔹𝕃𝔼 👯♀️💥
Tune in on ACC Network Extra
📺: https://t.co/46zr4G9vuE#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/PdbJmCqZSV— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 15, 2022
She's #⃣2⃣ in the nation in doubles for a reason 🤷♀️
Tune in on ACC Network Extra
📺: https://t.co/46zr4G9vuE#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/s67QozDr2k— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 15, 2022
🦊
📺: https://t.co/46zr4G9vuE#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/D7VwcVQmyh
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 15, 2022
We 𝙏𝙍𝙄𝙋𝙇𝙀 𝘿𝙊𝙂 dare you to give @EmmaKauf another pitch to hit 😏
📺: https://t.co/46zr4G9vuE#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/DZIJWgbuaM
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 15, 2022
𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔❕🤯 Careful, campus squirrels live in those trees 🐿️
Wildlife aside, things are always going well when there's an 𝗔-𝗕𝗢𝗠𝗕 sighting 💣💥
📺: https://t.co/46zr4G9vuE#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/ydnbbURnd1
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 15, 2022
Off to a 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 start this Friday 👏#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/LOwaJXyt4B
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 15, 2022
Run another one back 🔁
Tune in on ACC Network Extra
📺: https://t.co/46zr4G9vuE
📈: https://t.co/9XYA9kr059#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/XvCK2GfPG5— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 15, 2022
Entering the circle… ⏳#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/h3hTRvOK3E
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 15, 2022
Wake up, Wolfpack 🙇♀️
Tune in on ACC Network Extra
📺: https://t.co/46zr4G9vuE#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/sIPMltbJV2— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 15, 2022
Betting on 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 hits every time ♠️🃏💥
📺: https://t.co/46zr4G9vuE#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/2w0kkeWJdx
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 15, 2022
⬆️2⃣ more as @sb_pritchett and @auburn_dupree make their way 🏠
Jackets lead 4⃣-1⃣❕#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/hbYN0SmCcD
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 15, 2022
👯♀️𝐃𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐃𝐮𝐨🥎@EmmaKauf and @TriciaAwald22 go back-✌️-back with RBI singles to increase the Jacket lead to 6⃣-1⃣❕🤝#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/fb6oyEzipp
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 15, 2022
✌️ more to the crib thanks to @TriciaAwald22 ❕💥
📺: https://t.co/46zr4G9vuE#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/rzbt7M5a2n
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 16, 2022
Take us 🏠 @BaileyChapin❕
📺: https://t.co/46zr4G9vuE#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/KBmOjRDBkK
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 16, 2022
Good➡️𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 Friday 😁#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/T3ez8oy5fX
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 16, 2022
Catch @TriciaAwald22 on the 🎙 after her 🖐 RBI day#BeGold /// #404Institute pic.twitter.com/mxBNzIgn0O
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 16, 2022
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