THE FLATS – Georgia Tech softball will serve as a host site for the ACC/B1G Challenge for its second home tournament in as many weekends, welcoming Louisville (RV), Illinois and Wisconsin to The Flats Friday through Sunday. As ACC and B1G foes square off, the Yellow Jackets will take on the Badgers and the Fighting Illini two times apiece, beginning with Wisconsin on Friday at 4 p.m. at Mewborn Field. The tournament will feature eight total games.
ACC/B1G Challenge Schedule
Friday
Illinois vs. Louisville (1 p.m.)
Wisconsin vs. Georgia Tech (4 p.m.)
Saturday
Louisville vs. Wisconsin (10 a.m.)
Louisville vs. Illinois (12:30 p.m.)
Georgia Tech vs. Wisconsin (3:30 p.m.)
Illinois vs. Georgia Tech (6 p.m.)
Sunday
Wisconsin vs. Louisville (10 a.m.)
Georgia Tech vs. Illinois (12:30 p.m.)
TV
Each Georgia Tech game over the weekend will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra.
Parking
Friday/Sunday – Parking will be available in the McCamish lot.
Saturday – Parking will be available in the Family Housing deck.
Promotions
Following Bingo on Friday, Saturday will feature 90s trivia and a fanny pack giveaway while supplies last to celebrate 90s Day. Fans are encouraged to wear 90s apparel and costumes. Sunday will be a Navy Out accompanied by a navy t-shirt giveaway while supplies last as fans are encouraged to wear navy.
Storylines
- Georgia Tech most recently earned its first mercy-rule victory of the season, downing Georgia State 10-1 in five innings on the road.
- In the contest, the Yellow Jackets earned eight of their 10 runs in the top of the fifth and blasted three home runs in the contest.
- Junior third baseman Mallorie Black highlighted the night, hammering two dingers, including one for her first career grand slam. Black tallied a career-high five RBI as she launched two bombs in a single game for the first time in her career. Black has also matched her career total in home runs entering the season in just five games this season, totaling three in 2023 and six for her career.
- Senior catcher Emma Kauf went yard for the first time this season and 23rd time in her career.
- Six Jackets batted .500 or better in the contest.
- Senior right hander Blake Neleman tossed a strong five innings as she racked up eight punchouts while allowing just one hit.
- Neleman recently moved into fifth in program history in career strikeouts in the season-opening Buzz Classic, now owning 435 over her decorated career.
- The Marietta, Ga., native owns a 1.98 ERA after most notably racking up a career-high tying 13 strikeouts in a complete game two-hitter for victory over UConn.
- Dennis owns a stellar outing in the circle of her own against Saint Francis, throwing a complete game one-hitter for a shutout with eight strikeouts in seven innings of work.
- Defense has gone hand in hand with work from the circle this season as the Jackets lead the ACC and are 19th in the NCAA in fielding percentage (.992) while also landing third in the conference in double plays per game (.40).
- Other top five marks as a unit for the Yellow Jackets include fourth in the league in both stolen bases per game (1.60) and triples per game (.40).
- Tech’s staunch plate discipline has resulted in 27 walks, ranking second in the ACC and 12th in the NCAA.
- The Yellow Jackets have made the most of their swings, ranking fifth in the conference in home runs per game (.80).
- Individually, Black’s three home runs this season tie for first in the ACC as well as fifth in the NCAA. She’s also tied atop the conference and 16th in the country in RBI with nine this season.
- Neleman leads the ACC in strikeouts while landing in the top three in the NCAA with 27 punchouts. Her pair of victories also rank second in the conference and 16th in the nation.
- Dennis’ shutout is one of only a handful in the country as it ranks second in the league and seventh in the country.
- Two different Yellow Jacket outfielders have already knocked a triple this season in sophomore Auburn Dupree and freshman Paige Vukadinovich.
- Senior catcher Emma Kauf is currently ranked third in the ACC and 27th in the NCAA in walks per game (1.20).
Series Notes
- Georgia Tech currently trails Illinois 7-3 in the all-time series. The Yellow Jackets claimed the first meeting of the two programs at a neutral site in 2002 and won two more neutral contests in 2011 and 2013.
- The White and Gold trail Wisconsin 4-1 all time, claiming their win last season as Tech’s first regional victory in a decade kicked off the Gainesville Regional.
2023 Softball Tickets
Georgia Tech softball 2023 single-game tickets remain on sale and can be purchased HERE. Each ACC/B1G Challenge ticket will grant all-day access on the date purchased.
Single-Game Pricing:
Reserved Chairback: $5
Adult GA Bench: $3
Youth/Senior GA Bench: $2
Group (10+) GA Bench: $2
Standing room only tickets will be sold for $2 each if all other sections are sold out. Georgia Tech students and faculty/staff can receive free admission to regular season home games while seats remain available by showing a valid BuzzCard at the entrance.
More ticketing information, including the steps to become a member of the Mew Crew and the benefits of joining, can be found on the official Georgia Tech Softball Tickets page.
Alexander-Tharpe Fund
The Alexander-Tharpe Fund is the fundraising arm of Georgia Tech athletics, providing scholarship, operations and facilities support for Georgia Tech’s 400-plus student-athletes. Be a part of developing Georgia Tech’s Everyday Champions and helping the Yellow Jackets compete for championships at the highest levels of college athletics by supporting the Annual Athletic Scholarship Fund, which directly provides scholarships for Georgia Tech student-athletes. To learn more about supporting the Yellow Jackets, visit atfund.org.
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