THE FLATS – Georgia Tech softball (RV) will remain in the greater Atlanta area for its first road contest of the season, heading to Georgia State on Tuesday for a 5 p.m. matchup with its crosstown foe in Panthersville, Ga. The Yellow Jackets (2-2) are an even .500 following the Buzz Classic while the Panthers (1-4) recently picked up their first win of the season.
Game Information
Tuesday, Feb. 14 @ 5 p.m. vs. Georgia State
Storylines
- Georgia Tech went 2-2 in its season-opening Buzz Classic, downing the likes of UConn (1-2) and Saint Francis (2-2). The Jackets outlasted the Huskies 2-1 for their first win of the season and followed with a 7-0 triumph over the Red Flash.
- The White and Gold’s pitching staff stood tall throughout opening weekend as senior hurlers Blake Neleman and Chandler Dennis each put together a standout performance to lead the squad to victory.
- Neleman recently moved into fifth in program history in career strikeouts, tossing 19 over two outings on the weekend to tally 427 over her decorated career.
- The Marietta, Ga., native owns a 2.21 ERA after most notably racking up a career-high tying 13 strikeouts in a complete game two-hitter, resulting in Tech’s victory over UConn.
- Dennis had a stellar outing 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 20th in the NCAA in fielding percentage (.991) while also landing third in the conference in double plays per game (.50).
- Other top five marks as a unit for the Yellow Jackets include fourth in the league in both stolen bases per game (1.50) and triples per game (.50).
- Individually, Neleman leads the ACC in strikeouts while landing in the top five in the NCAA with 19 punchouts.
- Dennis’ shutout is one of only a handful in the country on opening weekend 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.
- Sophomore right hander Kinsey Norton remains one of a select few in the country with a flawless ERA in nearly five innings of work.
- On the base path, senior catcher Emma Kauf is currently ranked fifth in the league with a pair of stolen bases.
- The decorated Jacket is also second in the ACC and 19th in the NCAA in walks per game (1.25).
Series Notes
- Georgia Tech is more than doubling Georgia State in the all-time series, leading 52-25.
- The Jackets have won the last five contests, most recently including an 9-1 mercy rule victory in five innings at home and a 3-0 triumph on the road last season.
- The White and Gold took control of the series from 2001-11, going 28-2 against the crosstown foe over a decade.
- Tech is 26-9 at home, 23-14 on the road and 3-2 in neutral games in the series.
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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