Georgia Tech Softball drops first in Duke Double Header, 3-11

Tech Softball ended the first game of the weekend mercy ruled against #10 Duke.

Author:
Madison Meyers
Publish date:
Apr 21, 2023 6:33 PM EDT

Georgia Tech Softball traveled to #10 Duke in Durham, North Carolina for a difficult ACC weekend series. In what we expected to be an extremely tough matchup, the bats were just too hot for the Blue Devils for the Yellow Jackets to keep up. Kauf and Edgmon both hit home runs, but Duke hit 4 home runs among their 15 hits of the game.

Starting Lineup:

C Emma Kauf

3B Mallorie Black

2B Grace Connelly

RF Sarah Beth Allen

DP Emma Minghini

1B Abby Hughes

LF Auburn Dupree

SS Jin Sileo

CF Ella Edgmon

Starting Pitcher: RHP Blake Neleman

The game opened with Tech going 3 and out on three strikeouts. During Duke’s first at-bats, they hit a single, followed by a fielder's choice to keep a runner on first. They hit another single to have two runners on base, but a line out and flyout would end the inning.

The second inning brought two walks for the Yellow Jackets, but two foul outs and a strikeout left them on base. Duke had a quick inning with two pop-ups and a foul out.

The third inning is where the bats truly started to get going as both teams had several hits and runs. Tech started off with a single by Edgmon, who stole second during Kauf’s at-bat. Kauf then hit a bomb to left field to make the game 2-0. Three popups in a row ended any more scoring for GT in the third. When Duke stepped up to the plate, the first runner was walked, and a sac bunt advanced the runner to second. The following batter hit a 2 RBI homerun to right field to tie the game up at 2-2. After a line out, Duke hit a solo home run to left field to take the lead at 2-3. They looked like they might keep the ball rolling after a single, but a flyout ended the inning.

Minghini lead off the fourth with a ground out, but Hughes evened the score with a deep solo home run down the left-field line. A ground-out and pop-up closed out Tech’s offense. Tech made a pitching change as they pulled Neleman in exchange for Chandler Dennis. This move backfired as Duke hit a home run on their first batter to begin what looked like a tumbling fall of Georgia Tech’s chances at the game. Two singles and a batter hit by a pitch loaded up the bases. Another single pushed two runners home to make the game 3-6. Tech was able to close out the inning defensively before any more damage could be done.

The fifth inning saw our pitching continue to struggle. After Tech quickly left the offense from 2 ground outs and a foul out, Duke hit yet another home run. Needing to make a change on the mound, Sophia Voyles entered the game hoping to change the pace. She, unfortunately, could not hold back Duke’s offensive power as they immediately hit a double and single bunt. A runner made it to home on a throwing error by Kauf to bring the game to 3-8. The next batter struck out swinging, but still reached first on a passed ball. A wild pitch advanced both runners on base to put runners on second and third, and another single sent a run in. After a stolen base to second, the Blue Devils hit a sac fly to score another run to make the game 3-10, one run away from the 8-run mercy rule. Another single put a runner on base, and the following batter was intentionally walked in an attempt to salvage the game despite this loading the bases. The following batter hit an RBI single to end the game and seal Georgia Tech’s 3-11 loss.

A very disappointing pitching day will hopefully not overshadow the next game tonight or Sunday’s game. If the Yellow Jackets can take one game of the series, this would be huge as there are just 5 games left on the schedule.

Georgia Tech and Duke face off tonight at 7 p.m. on ACC Network Extra and Sunday at 12 p.m. to finish their final away series of the regular season.

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