THE FLATS – Georgia Tech softball (5-4) came up short during day one of the Florida Classic Tournament with a 6-5 loss to FIU (7-1) and an 8-5 loss to No. 5 Florida (9-0).
QUICK HITS
- Game one of the day saw eight Yellow Jackets record 10 hits with Gracyn Tucker and Alyssa Willer leading the team with two hits each.
- Addison Leschber was able to record her first home run of the season during the first inning against FIU. Reese Hunter also saw her hit soar over the walls of Pressly Stadium in the first inning for what was her second home run of the season.
- Sydnie Watts made her third start of the season in the circle against FIU. Watts faced 21 batters across 4.2 innings pitched and recorded two strikeouts before she was relieved by Kenley Hilleary. Hilleary came in and threw two strikeouts against five batters faced in 1.1 total innings pitched.
- Tech tied its season high for at bats (29) after setting its original season high against Kennesaw State on Tuesday.
- In game two of the day, seven Yellow Jackets recorded a hit, with Tucker leading the group with two hits for her team leading fourth multi-hit game of the season.
- Tech softball has now played three games against top-20 ranked teams (No. 16 Alabama, twice, No. 5 Florida).
- Willer saw her third home run of the season during the fourth inning against Florida while Emma Simon saw her second home run of the season in the fourth as well.
- Madalyn Johnson saw her third start of the season in game two, despite making her fifth appearance of the season in game one. Johnson began the day relieving Hilleary in game one and pitching the remaining 1.0 innings against FIU. She finished the day throwing her second complete game of the season along with three strikeouts against No. 5 Florida. 2
- Tech softball has recorded at least one home run in seven out of nine games played so far this season. The Yellow Jackets have recorded multiple home runs in six games this year as well.
- As a team, Tech saw a season high 10 assists against No. 5 Florida.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game One vs. FIU
- After keeping the Panthers off the board in the first, Willer scored the first run of the game as she advanced home from second off a double from Gailey.
- Gailey came home shortly after in the bottom of the first with a Leschber home run that cleared the center field wall of Pressly Stadium. Hunter joined the home run party with a home run of her own over the left field wall.
- Florida International got on the board with a solo home run over the left field wall on a full count and one out away.
- FIU was able to cut Tech’s lead down to one run in the top of the fifth starting with a bunt that advanced the Panther runner home from third. A double to center field scored one addition run before an error on Tech saw another run reach home safely.
- The Panthers stacked two runs on four hits in the top of the seventh to claim the lead following a Georgia Tech pitching change that saw Johnson take the circle.
Game Two vs. No. 5 Florida
- With two on base, Florida got on board in the bottom of the first as one runner made it home while the batter ground out to second. The following batter for Florida reached on a single as another came home to give the Gators a 2-0 lead.
- Tech loaded up the bases for the first time in the bottom of the second and was able to get on the board as King safely reached home on a single through left field from Wall.
- The Yellow Jackets added two runs in the top of the third as a single from Hunter proves to be a problem for the hosting Gators, resulting in two bases for the senior and two additional runs for the Tech lead.
- Florida was able to load the bases in the bottom of the third before a full count got the better of the Yellow Jackets’ pitcher and the Gators tied the game with a walk.
- Simon was all business as the lead-off batter in the fourth, slamming a solo home run over center field off a 1-1 count. With a nearly identical hit, Willer also recorded a solo home run over center field to make it a 5-3 game.
- The Gators tied up the game in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run homer over center. They then went onto take the lead via a double in the bottom of the sixth before a home run over right center added the last two runs of the game.
UP NEXT
Tech softball is set to continue competing in the Florida Classic in Gainesville, Fla. with games against FIU and Marshall Feb. 14 and a rematch against No. 5 Florida on Feb. 15. The Yellow Jackets will return to Mewborn to host College of Charleston, Georgia State, Purdue, and Yale in the I-75 Tournament at Mewborn Field Feb. 19 -22.
Purchasing 2026 Tickets
Tech fans are able purchase single game tickets to all of the 2026 contests at Mewborn. Pricing for the 34-game softball home schedule starts at just $10.00 (plus applicable taxes and fees). Fans can also now purchase and donate a 2026 season ticket for a military member or first responder.
The Saturday ACC ticket plan allows fans to catch all of the ACC action at Mewborn every Saturday through the 2026 season. This plan includes general admission seating in the stands to watch the Yellow Jackets host Notre Dame, Duke, Boston College, and Florida State.
All tickets can be purchased online at https://ramblinwreck.evenue.net/list/SOFTBALL or by calling the Georgia Tech Ticket Office at 888.TECH.TIX (Hours: M-F, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM). General admission season tickets start at just $80.00 and all chairback seating is now sold out for the 2026 season.
2026 Softball Group Experiences and Video Board Messages!
Georgia Tech Softball is also offering special experiences for the 2026 softball season, including group postgame photos and special videoboard messages! Click the links below to purchase your experience today!
Click HERE to purchase videoboard messages!
Click HERE to purchase postgame photos!
On field Anthem Buddies experiences, for groups of 10-15 kids, ages 8-14, are also available for the 2026 season! To learn more, email gtmarketing@athletics.gatech.edu!
Want your special message on the board at Mewborn field for the 2026 season? 2026 video board messages are available for purchase now for $30!
Clear Bag Policy
Tech fans should anticipate seeing the clear bag policy return for the 2026 season. Any outside items brought into the facility must be contained within a clear bag. For more information on Georgia Tech’s policy, go to https://ramblinwreck.com/clearbag/
Full Steam Ahead
Full Steam Ahead is a $500 million fundraising initiative to achieve Georgia Tech athletics’ goal of competing for championships at the highest level in the next era of intercollegiate athletics. The initiative will fund transformative projects for Tech athletics, including renovations of Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field (the historic home of Georgia Tech football), the Zelnak Basketball Center (the practice and training facility for Tech basketball) and O’Keefe Gymnasium (the venerable home of Yellow Jackets volleyball), as well as additional projects and initiatives to further advance Georgia Tech athletics through program wide-operational support. All members of the Georgia Tech community are invited to visit atfund.org/FullSteamAhead for full details and renderings of the renovation projects, as well as to learn about opportunities to contribute online.
For the latest information on the Georgia Tech softball team, follow us on Twitter (@GaTechSoftball), Facebook, Instagram (@GaTechsoftball) or visit us at www.ramblinwreck.com.
