THE FLATS – Georgia Tech softball (5-5) will take on the Queen City Classic over the weekend, joining Boston University (7-2), Penn State (5-0), Kent State (4-5) and Charlotte (6-3) for the first road tournament of the season. The Yellow Jackets will open competition against the Terriers on Friday at 12:30 p.m. CT in Charlotte, N.C.
Queen City Classic Slate
Friday
Boston University @ 12:30 p.m.
Saturday
Penn State @ 10 a.m.
Kent State @ 3 p.m.
Sunday
Kent State @ 11:30 a.m.
Charlotte @ 2 p.m.
TV
Georgia Tech’s game against Charlotte will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
Storylines
- Georgia Tech most recently topped in-state foe Kennesaw State at home, 5-3.
- Senior catcher Emma Kauf blasted her third home run of the season in the contest, tying the team lead on the year as she’s gone yard 25 times in her decorated career.
- Junior designated player Sara Beth Allen picked up an RBI single, giving her a hit in five consecutive games and reaching base in six straight contests. The Jackson County, Ga., native has gotten a hit in each game she’s made at least two plate appearances this season.
- Freshman outfielder Paige Vukadinovich is on a four-game hitting streak to date, joining Allen in tying for the team lead reaching base in six consecutive outings.
- Sophomore righty Kinsey Norton has been effective in both of her save situations this season, cashing in on both opportunities to tie for the conference lead and rank seventh in the country.
- Senior hurler Blake Neleman (2-1) recently moved into fifth in program history in career strikeouts in the season-opening Buzz Classic, now owning 446 over her decorated career.
- The Marietta, Ga., native owns a 2.92 ERA after most notably racking up a career-high tying 13 strikeouts in a complete game two-hitter for victory over UConn in her first appearance of the season.
- Fellow senior right hander Chandler 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 as she’s now up to three wins on the season, tying the third highest mark in the league.
- Defense has gone hand in hand with work from the circle this season as the Jackets lead the ACC and are fifth in the NCAA in fielding percentage (.988) while also landing fifth in the league in double plays per game (.30).
- Other top five marks as a unit for the Yellow Jackets include fourth in the conference in triples per game (.30) and fifth in the league in stolen bases per game (1.50).
- Tech’s staunch plate discipline has resulted in 43 walks, ranking third in the ACC and 16th in the NCAA.
- The Yellow Jackets have made the most of their swings, ranking fifth in the conference in home runs per game (1.00).
- Individually, Allen’s 0.38 home runs per game are currently fifth in the ACC.
- Neleman is third in the ACC in while landing 26th in the NCAA with 38 punchouts.
- With her pair of triples this season, Vukadinovich is tied atop the league and second in the nation.
Series Notes
- Georgia Tech leads Boston University 4-1 in the all-time series. The Yellow Jackets have won the last four matchups, going 3-0 and home and claiming a neutral contest. The White and Gold took the first two victories by mercy rule in five innings at home in 2005 (12-0) and at a neutral site in 2006 (9-1) before earning a pair of wins on The Flats in 2009 (5-1, 7-2).
- Tech is even with Penn State all-time at 5-5. The Jackets added a pair of victories on The Flats a season ago to tie the series, winning 2-0 and 6-4. Georgia Tech also picked up a 3-2 win at home in 2020 along with two more triumphs in 2011, coming out on top 6-0 at home and 2-0 at a neutral site.
- The White and Gold won the only previous contest against Kent State, topping the Golden Flashes 5-0 at a neutral site in 2005.
- Georgia Tech holds a 20-10-1 advantage over Charlotte all time. The Yellow Jackets are currently on a three-game win streak after sweeping the 49ers at home a season ago. Tech dominated the series from 1992-96, winning 14 straight for the longest streak of the series. The White and Gold most notably hold an 8-2 advantage in neutral contests while leading 6-2-1 on The Flats and being tied 6-6 on the road. Georgia Tech and Charlotte have only competed against each other four times since the 90s, with the Jackets claiming the last three games.
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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