JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Georgia Tech softball (21-19, 4-11 ACC) flew by Jacksonville State (24-12, 10-2 ASUN) for a 9-6 victory on Tuesday night at University Field, thanks in large part to the offense erupting for nine runs on 12 hits. The triumph marked coach Aileen Morales’ 150th win as the Yellow Jackets’ skipper as she remains fourth in program history in wins among those who’ve manned the reins on The Flats.
Joining Morales in making Jacket history was senior catcher Emma Kauf, whose 2-for-5 day with an RBI was highlighted by her 45th career double, tying Tara Knudsen (2001-04) for fourth in program history in the category.
Junior designated player Sara Beth Allen had a stellar day at the dish, leading the four Yellow Jackets batting .500 or better with multiple hits as she went 2-for-3. The White and Gold’s leading slugger launched her 10th home of the season with one of those hits, driving in three runs on the swing as she moved up to double-digit dingers in a season for the first time in her career with 11 home runs on The Flats to date.
Senior hurlers Chandler Dennis and Blake Neleman (8-8) split time in the circle as Dennis got the start before Neleman rode out the rest of the game. Dennis tossed the first three innings, picking up four strikeouts and surrendering three runs. Neleman took the ball for the final four innings, tallying four punchouts of her own and three runs allowed as well, receiving the victory in the end to move up to a .500 record.
How it Happened
Georgia Tech exploded out of the gate, bursting ahead by three in the top of the first. Following a leadoff walk and Kauf’s historic double to move both runners into scoring position, Allen unleashed her three-run bomb that cleared dead center to put the Yellow Jackets on top.
Jacksonville State cut into the lead in the bottom of the second, scoring on a sequence of miscues to trail 3-1.
The White and Gold regained a three-run advantage in the following frame, rallying with two down as Tech’s RBI leader in sophomore second baseman Grace Connelly drove in junior first baseman Abby Hughes with a double.
The Gamecocks continued to chip away at the lead in the bottom half of the third, swatting a two-RBI single to draw within a run, behind 4-3.
After a scoreless fourth, JSU evened the tally in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single.
With a brand-new ballgame going into the sixth, Georgia Tech raced back in front in the top of the frame with five more runs. Starting the inning with a leadoff walk and a sac bunt that put the runner in scoring position, sophomore center fielder Ella Edgmon opened the inning’s scoring with an RBI double. Soon after, Kauf followed with an RBI single of her own to score Edgmon. A pair of walks then ensued to load the bases, setting up a two-RBI single by Hughes that would clear the base path and put her on third thanks to a misplay in the outfield.
Despite Tech’s newfound, 9-4 lead, the Gamecocks continued to claw back in the bottom of the frame. Jacksonville State laced a double and a single that drove in a run apiece, cutting the Jackets’ advantage down to three.
Neither side managed to make any noise in the final frame as Neleman closed out the bottom of the seventh for her eighth victory on the year and a 9-6 triumph for the White and Gold.
Game Notes
- Morales earned her 150th win as head coach at Georgia Tech, remaining the fourth winningest coach on The Flats.
- Kauf’s double tied her for fourth in program history in career doubles with 45 alongside Tara Knudsen (2001-04).
- Allen’s three-run blast marked her team-leading 10th round tripper of the season and 11th of her career. She topped the squad with her 2-for-3 day.
- The 12 hits as a team tied the second most for the Yellow Jackets in a single game this season.
- Five different Yellow Jackets came away with two hits in the contest in Kauf, Allen, Hughes, Edgmon and sophomore outfielder Madison Dobbins.
- Four of those five batted .500 or better in Allen (2-for-3), Dobbins (2-for-4), Edgmon (2-for-4) and Hughes (2-for-3).
- Edgmon and Connelly each came away with RBI doubles while Hughes cleared a loaded base path on a single. Kauf also picked up an RBI on the day.
- Neleman evened her record in the circle this season, moving to 8-8 with the win.
- Georgia Tech now leads Jacksonville State 10-5 in the all-time series.
- The White and Gold have never lost at University Field, going a perfect 5-0 at the Gamecocks’ home ballpark since 2002.
Up Next
Georgia Tech will remain on the road for its next conference weekend series, heading to Pitt (18-17, 2-9 ACC) for game one on Friday at 6 p.m. at Vartabedian Field in Pittsburgh. The series will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra.
Multimedia
🥎𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐀𝐘🥎
🆚 Jacksonville State
⏰ 6⃣ p.m. ET
📍 Jacksonville, Ala.
🏟️ University Field
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💻 https://t.co/wt3KqQhfmH
📊 https://t.co/TbPWmX1fb7#BeGold x #404Institute pic.twitter.com/ZIZkZU0QgJ— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 11, 2023
First pitch in The 'Ville 🔜
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💻 https://t.co/wt3KqQhfmH
📊 https://t.co/TbPWmX1fb7#BeGold x #404Institute pic.twitter.com/khbgmOF95y— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 11, 2023
𝘾𝙇𝙄𝙈𝘽𝙄𝙉𝙂 🆙@EmmaKauf moves into a tie for 𝟰𝘁𝗵 in program history in career doubles as she ropes her 𝟰𝟱𝘁𝗵 early in the top of the first 💫#BeGold x #404Institute pic.twitter.com/CmteEKCIn3
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 11, 2023
Grass is green, the sky is blue and @sballen99 hits dingers 🤷♀️
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💻 https://t.co/wt3KqQgHx9#BeGold x #404Institute pic.twitter.com/uXyw7x5Ohn— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 11, 2023
𝘊𝘏𝘐𝘓𝘓 𝘖𝘜𝘛 𝘌𝘓𝘓𝘈 🫢
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💻 https://t.co/wt3KqQgHx9#BeGold x #404Institute x #SCTop10 x @NCAASoftball pic.twitter.com/ksDN7k5mas— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 11, 2023
Connelly to the Cock Pit 💥
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💻 https://t.co/wt3KqQgHx9#BeGold x #404Institute pic.twitter.com/jYhkmh5qq0— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 11, 2023
🔙🔛🔝
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💻 https://t.co/wt3KqQgHx9#BeGold x #404Institute pic.twitter.com/AHEOryjx4a— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 11, 2023
Also, s/o to @auburn_dupree with the 👇 pic.twitter.com/H2P1ss37b1
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 11, 2023
Easy 💰 Emma 🤑
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💻 https://t.co/wt3KqQgHx9#BeGold x #404Institute pic.twitter.com/gobWlX6rya— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 11, 2023
A little Abby magic 🎩✨
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💻 https://t.co/wt3KqQgHx9#BeGold x #404Institute pic.twitter.com/jCa04SmVwS— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 12, 2023
Sorry, we’re a little cocky 😏#BeGold x #404Institute pic.twitter.com/I0wpxwzTA6
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 12, 2023
⭐️𝗠𝗔𝗝𝗢𝗥 𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗡𝗘⭐️
𝘼𝙉𝙊𝙏𝙃𝙀𝙍 stepping stone for our skipper @Coach_A_Mo 🫡#BeGold x #404Institute pic.twitter.com/C0uYHzwqEu
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 12, 2023
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