THE FLATS – Georgia Tech softball (11-8) will renew a storied rivalry with No. 18 Auburn (20-2) for the first time in over a decade, approaching a second consecutive SEC midweek matchup on Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Mewborn Field. Opening last week against No. 19 Georgia (17-5), the Yellow Jackets enter the contest riding a three-game winning streak after sweeping the field of the I-75 Tournament, including UNI (8-7), Southern Miss (14-3) and Brown (2-7).
Game Information
Wednesday, March 8 @ 2 p.m. vs. No. 18 Auburn
TV
The clash will be Tech’s first to appear on linear television, being broadcast live on ACC Network.
Parking
Parking will be available in the McCamish lot and Family Housing deck.
Promotions
For National Women’s Day, blue roses, gift bags and gift cards will be given out while supplies last. There will also be a raffle held during the game.
Storylines
- Georgia Tech enters the midweek matchup following a pair of consecutive shutouts, downing Southern Miss (1-0) and Brown (6-0). The Yellow Jackets also earned their second win by mercy-rule, first double-digit triumph and largest margin of victory of the season against UNI, trouncing the Panthers (12-2) in five innings.
- Senior hurlers Blake Neleman and Chandler Dennis both saw through the shutouts as Dennis received credit for both wins while Neleman picked up both saves in the shutouts.
- For the weekend, Neleman finished with a 1.45 ERA, tallying 15 strikeouts while surrendering just two runs on four hits in 9.2 innings of work. The Marietta, Ga., native’s performance against UNI stood out as she tossed her third complete game of the season, racking up nine strikeouts while allowing just three hits in five innings pitched for the win before closing out both of the next two games without allowing a run.
- Dennis fueled both of Tech’s shutouts, finishing 2-0 on the weekend with 10 strikeouts in 9.1 innings of work as she didn’t surrender a run and gave up just four hits.
- Both Neleman and Dennis held opponents to a .129 batting average for the weekend.
- On the season, Neleman (69) and Dennis (42) have combined for 111 strikeouts.
- Sophomore second baseman Grace Connelly barreled a pair of home runs over the weekend, including her first career grand slam against UNI on Friday. Two Jackets now own grand slams this season (Mallorie Black – Georgia State) as Connelly is up to three dingers on the season and four during her time on The Flats.
- Coach Aileen Morales recently eclipsed 250 career victories as a head coach as she owns 253 after the weekend.
- Defense has gone hand in hand with work from the circle this season as the Jackets are third in the ACC and sixth in the NCAA in fielding percentage (.984).
- Other top five marks as a unit for the Yellow Jackets include fourth in the conference and 22nd in the nation in triples per game (.37) while also placing fifth in the league in stolen bases per game (1.74).
- Neleman (3-3) recently moved into third in program history in career strikeouts during the I-75 Tournament, now owning 477 over her decorated career.
- The Marietta, Ga., native also picked up a pair of saves over the weekend, moving up to six in her career as she’s now in an eight-way tie for third in program history in career saves.
- Amongst the nation, Neleman is second in the ACC in while landing 27th in the NCAA with 69 punchouts.
- Sophomore righty Kinsey Norton has also been effective in both of her save situations this season, cashing in on both opportunities as she and Neleman are tied for the conference lead and rank 19th in the country.
- Swatting six doubles over the last seven games, sophomore utility player Madison Dobbins is now third in the ACC in doubles per game (0.35) as she put together a 4-for-4 night with a double, a triple and four RBI against UNI. The four hits marked a career high as she also knocked her first collegiate triple.
- Taking the team lead with five dingers on the season and six in her career, junior designated player Sara Beth Allen is currently fifth in the league in home runs per game (0.29).
- Piling up seven RBI over the last week, Connelly leads the squad with 17 RBI as she’s also fifth in the conference in RBI per game (0.89).
Series Notes
- Georgia Tech currently leads Auburn in the all-time series, 6-5.
- The Yellow Jackets have never lost at home against the Tigers, going 4-0 on The Flats.
- Both squads are tied 1-1 in neutral matchups.
- Tech took the first meeting of the two sides with a 4-0 triumph in Marietta, Ga., on March 29, 1997.
- The White and Gold own the only pair of back-to-back victories in the history of the series, claiming both contests in May of 2009 and 2010 by a score of 4-1 on The Flats.
2023 Softball Tickets
Georgia Tech softball 2023 single-game tickets remain on sale and can be purchased HERE.
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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