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Tech Trounces North Carolina, 12-5

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Box Score Season Stats

THE FLATS – Georgia Tech softball (25-25, 7-16 ACC) blew by North Carolina (24-27, 12-10 ACC) for 12-5 victory on Saturday at Mewborn Field, evening the series thanks in large part to a pair of four-run bursts in the Yellow Jackets’ first and final at-bats. Sophomore designated player Emma Minghini barreled the White and Gold’s third grand slam of the season in the bottom of the first, giving Tech a lead it would maintain throughout the contest, later pulling away in the sixth.

Minghini had a stellar day at the dish on top of her first career grand slam, going 2-for-4 as she also roped a double to finish with a career-high tying four RBI and a couple of runs scored. Alongside Minghini, senior catcher Emma Kauf was electric at the plate in her own right, going 2-for-3 as she launched a three-run blast and crossed the plate twice on her own. Minghini and Kauf combined to drive in seven of the Jackets’ 12 runs with their two dingers.

In the circle, senior slingers Blake Neleman and Chandler Dennis once again shouldered the load. Neleman (10-9) got the start and picked up the win to improve beyond .500 for the season, tossing four innings with a pair of strikeouts. Dennis closed out the final three innings, allowing just one run on three hits to secure her team-leading third save of the season.

Georgia Tech vs. North Carolina

April 29, 2023 (Eldon Lindsay)

How it Happened

North Carolina struck first in the opening frame, taking a 1-0 lead on an RBI double. Georgia Tech came right back in the bottom half, leading off the inning with back-to-back singles by sophomore center fielder Ella Edgmon and Kauf. An ensuing walk loaded the base path, setting up Minghini’s grand salami for a 4-1 Yellow Jacket advantage.

The Tar Heels trimmed the lead in the top of the second, taking advantage of an errant throw to score a run and trail 4-2.

After a scoreless third, the White and Gold built on their lead in the fourth as a single by junior first baseman Abby Hughes and a following error primed Kauf’s three-run rocket to vault Tech further ahead, 7-2.

North Carolina continued to battle, swatting back-to-back RBI doubles in the top of the fifth to cut the lead back to three. A bases-loaded walk in the bottom half would nullify one of those runs, however, pushing the Jackets up to an 8-4 advantage.

The Tar Heels continued to fight in the sixth, belting a solo shot to move within three once more. Georgia Tech answered with chaos in the next half inning, tacking on four more runs to put the game out of reach. The Yellow Jackets loaded the bases thanks to a single by sophomore second baseman Grace Connelly and a pair of walks, setting up three straight swings to the outfield that scored each runner. An error would allow the first pair of runs in before an RBI single by freshman Paige Vukadinovich and double by sophomore shortstop Jin Sileo drove in the final runs of the inning, resulting in a 12-5 Tech lead.

Dennis slammed the door from the circle in North Carolina’s final opportunity at the plate, allowing no runs as she secured the save for the White and Gold’s 12-5 triumph.

Game Notes

  • Georgia Tech’s 12 runs on the day tied the second most in a single game this season.
  • The Yellow Jackets have now come away with double-digit runs in seven games this season.
  • The grand slam in the top of the first marked the third of the season for Tech and the first in Minghini’s career.
  • Minghini has now gone yard twice this season and three times throughout her career.
  • The four RBI for Minghini tied her single-game career high.
  • Kauf’s round tripper became her seventh of the season as she’s up to 29 while donning the White and Gold.
  • Minghini and Kauf combined to drive in seven of the Jackets’ 12 runs with their two dingers.
  • Neleman (10-9) got the start in the circle and picked up the win to improve above .500 for the season.
  • Dennis secured her team-leading third save of the season after closing out the final three innings, allowing just one run on three hits.

Up Next

The rubber match between the Yellow Jackets and Tar Heels will be held on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Mewborn Field. The game will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra.

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