THE FLATS – Georgia Tech softball (12-8) will make its way to Virginia (17-5) for its first ACC series of the season, beginning conference play on Friday at 5 p.m. in Charlottesville, Va. The Yellow Jackets and Cavaliers will also clash on Saturday at 1 p.m. and wrap up the series in front of a national audience on Sunday at 4 p.m. on ACC Network.
Series Information
Friday, March 10 @ 5 p.m. vs. Virginia
Saturday, March 11 @ 1 p.m. vs. Virginia
Sunday, March 12 @ 4 p.m. vs. Virginia
TV
Games one and two of the series will be streamed on ACC Network Extra. The series finale will be Tech’s second of the both season and the week to be appear on linear television, being broadcast live on ACC Network.
Storylines
- Georgia Tech enters its first conference series on the high of a walk-off upset of No. 18 Auburn, 2-1, thanks to freshman catcher Reese Hunter’s solo rocket over left center on Wednesday.
- The upset marked Tech’s first ranked win of the season, now sitting at 1-1 against No. 18 teams in the country.
- The Yellow Jackets’ ranked victory is the first since a 9-8 victory over No. 25 Notre Dame on April 1, 2022.
- The White and Gold remain undefeated against Auburn at home, now sitting at 5-0 on The Flats.
- Leading the five Jackets who earned hits on the day was junior third baseman Mallorie Black as she went 2-for-3 with a triple.
- Hunter’s home run marked the second of her young collegiate career and her first in walk-off fashion.
- Senior hurlers Blake Neleman and Chandler Dennis have allowed just one run over the last three contests, shutting out the previous two opponents entirely to combine for 24 strikeouts, only 10 hits allowed, a 0.33 ERA and a .162 opponent batting average over the last 21 innings pitched.
- Dennis (7-3) has received credit for all three wins while Neleman picked up the first two saves and was an out shy of a complete game against the Tigers.
- Neleman tallied seven punchouts and just one run allowed in 6.2 innings of work in the upset.
- On the season, Neleman (76) and Dennis (43) have combined for 119 strikeouts.
- Defense has gone hand in hand with work from the circle this season as the Jackets are second in the ACC and seventh in the NCAA in fielding percentage (.982).
- Other top five marks as a unit for the Yellow Jackets include third in the conference and 17th in the nation in triples per game (.40) while also placing fifth in the league in stolen bases per game (1.65).
- Neleman (3-3) recently moved into third in program history in career strikeouts during the I-75 Tournament, now owning 484 over her decorated career.
- The Marietta, Ga., native also picked up a pair of saves last 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 24th in the NCAA with 76 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 second in the conference lead and rank 22nd in the country.
- Racking up wins as of late, Dennis is now third in the ACC with seven wins in the circle.
- Swatting six doubles over the last eight games, sophomore utility player Madison Dobbins is now fourth in the ACC in doubles per game (0.33).
- Piling up eight RBI over the last week, Connelly leads the squad with 18 RBI as she’s also fifth in the conference in RBI per game (0.90).
Series Notes
- Georgia Tech currently leads Virginia in the all-time series, 53-42.
- The Yellow Jackets have won each of the last five contests and 10 of the last 11 matchups, including four mercy-rule victories.
- Tech most recently swept a four-game home series in 2021.
- The last time Georgia Tech visited Virginia, the Yellow Jackets swept the Cavaliers in three games in 2018. Following competition included Tech taking two of three on The Flats in 2019, a mercy-rule victory in the ACC Tournament later that season and the aforementioned four-game sweep in 2021.
- The White and Gold own the longest win streak of the series, going on an 11-game tear from 2009-11.
- The Jackets have gone 20-12 on the road against the Cavaliers, also holding a 22-21 lead at home and a 11-9 advantage in neutral contests.
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.
For the latest information on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, follow us on Instagram (@GaTechSoftball), Twitter (@GaTechSoftball), Facebook (Georgia Tech Softball) or visit us at www.ramblinwreck.com.
