THE FLATS – Georgia Tech softball (20-19, 4-11 ACC) will open its week-long road swing at Jacksonville State (24-11, 10-2 ASUN) on Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET at University Field in Jacksonville, Ala. The Yellow Jackets enter the midweek tilt on the heels of their second ACC series victory of the season, taking two of three over Boston College (18-19, 2-10 ACC).
Game Information
Tuesday, April 11 @ 6 p.m. ET vs. Jacksonville State
TV
The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
Storylines
- Georgia Tech most recently won its second ACC series of the season, taking two of three games from Boston College after doing the same to Virginia to open conference play earlier in the year.
- With a 10-2 (6) victory over Boston College in the series finale on Sunday, the mercy-rule triumph marked the Yellow Jackets’ fifth of the season and first over an ACC opponent on the year.
- The outing also became the fifth game this season the Jackets have scored double-digit runs.
- Through the series, senior hurler Blake Neleman (7-8) locked the Eagles down from the circle in her two appearances in the series, earning a 1.11 ERA and a 2-0 record through her nearly two complete games. The Marietta, Ga., native racked up 16 strikeouts and surrendered just two earned runs on three hits through 12.2 innings pitched.
- Neleman came within two outs of a no-no in her one-hitter with nine strikeouts against Boston College for a series-opening, 5-1 win. She exited an out shy of another complete game in the series finale victory.
- Hughes caught fire at the dish in the series as she finished 4-for-6 with a double, a home run and six RBI. Batting .500 or better in each game, the Leesburg, Ga., native’s highlights over the weekend included her fourth career home run in game one and a 2-for-3 outing in the series finale as she came away with a pair of two-RBI knocks, the latter of which was a run-rule walk-off double.
- Two more donning the White and Gold went yard in the series finale as senior catcher Emma Kauf barreled her fifth of the season and 27th on The Flats while junior third baseman Mallorie Black launched her seventh of the year and 10th of her career. Kauf led the squad in game one of the series, going 2-for-3, while Black mirrored that line in game two.
- The Yellow Jackets have reached double-digit triples on the season for the first time since 2014, improving 10 total on the year.
- Kauf has tied Lindsay Wood (2000-03) for fifth in program history in career doubles with 44 to date.
- Neleman has moved into second all-time in career strikeouts, also becoming the second Yellow Jacket ever to surpass 500 career strikeouts with 527 to date.
- On top of marching through Tech’s record books in strikeouts, Neleman has picked up a pair of saves this season, moving up to six in her career as she’s now in an eight-way tie for third in program history in career saves.
- Neleman owns five complete games this year and one shutout this season.
- On the season, Neleman (119) and fellow senior right hander Chandler Dennis (82) have combined for 201 strikeouts.
- Defense has gone hand-in-hand with work from the circle this season as the Jackets are third in the ACC and 14th in the NCAA in fielding percentage (.977).
- Amongst the conference this season, Neleman is third in the ACC in strikeouts as she’s surpassed the century mark with 119 punchouts. She’s also currently fifth in the league in hits allowed per seven innings with a 4.67 average.
- Swatting a career-high third triple on the season against Georgia Southern, Kauf is currently fourth in the conference in triples per game.
Series Notes
- Georgia Tech leads Jacksonville State 9-5 in the all-time series.
- The White and Gold won the first seven straight contests between the two from 2002-11.
- The Yellow Jackets earned their most recent victory over the Gamecocks on the road in 2015.
- Tech owns a 4-1 advantage on the road, winning all four matchups at University Field from the beginning of the series in 2002 to 2015.
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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