PITTSBURGH – Georgia Tech softball (22-20, 5-12 ACC) outlasted Pitt (19-18, 3-10 ACC), for a 13-11 (10) victory in extras on Friday at Vartabedian Field. The Yellow Jackets claimed their first extra-inning triumph of the year in the marathon as they exploded for season highs of 13 runs and four home runs while matching their season best of 13 hits throughout the nearly four-and-a-half-hour affair.
Four different Yellow Jackets compiled multiple hits on the day, led by senior catcher Emma Kauf as she went 3-for-6 with an RBI double. The decorated Jacket’s 10th two-bagger of the season not only added a security run in the top of the 10th, but also tied her with Jen Yee (2007, 2009-10) for third in program history in career doubles with 46 apiece.
Playing the hero for the White and Gold in extras, sophomore center fielder Ella Edgmon swung on for a pair of hits and three RBI, driving in two scores with her fourth double on the year and barreling her first home run of the season that proved to be the game-winning run.
Joining Kauf and Edgmon in Tech’s barrage at the dish were sophomore left fielder Madison Dobbins and junior third baseman Mallorie Black, who each picked up a pair of hits for three RBI. While one of Black’s swings went for extra bases, Dobbins went yard with both of her hits as her second and third career dingers padded the Jackets’ lead in the sixth and put Georgia Tech on top in the eighth.
Junior right fielder Sara Beth Allen cranked a longball in the contest to spark the Yellow Jackets as well, launching her third round-tripper in the last four games for two RBI as she leads the squad with 11 this season.
Defensively, Georgia Tech made multiple highlight-reel plays in the left field as junior shortstop Jin Sileo came away with a pair of leaping grabs while Dobbins completed a diving snag of her own.
In the circle, senior hurler Chandler Dennis (12-6) tossed the final four innings, keeping the Panthers in check to secure the win. Freshman right-hander Kinsey Norton (1.1 IP) got the start for the day, while senior Blake Neleman (2.2 IP) and sophomore Sophia Voyles (2 IP) also saw action in relief.
Georgia Tech vs. Pitt
April 15, 2023 (Brady McBride)
How it Happened
Georgia Tech opened the game’s scoring in its first opportunity at the dish as Kauf dropped a single into right field that turned into a little-league home run. Pitt followed suit next, hitting a pair of RBI singles to take a 2-1 lead after the first.
The Panthers tacked onto their lead in the second, lining another RBI single before a two-RBI jack moved them further in front, 5-1.
Following a pair of scoreless innings, the Yellow Jackets uncorked for seven runs in the top of the fifth to race back in front. Edgmon got the scoring started with a two-run double, followed by another two-bagger by Black for three scores and Allen’s two-run blast for an 8-5 advantage.
Dobbins picked up where her teammates left off in the sixth, hammering a two-run bomb of her own to propel Tech to a five-run lead.
In the bottom of the frame, Pitt roared back with an RBI double and a three-run homer, drawing within a run, trailing 10-9.
Down to their final three outs, the Panthers got the run they needed in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI single to send the game to extras.
Both squads scored a run in the eighth as Dobbins laced her second ball out of the yard in the top half before a sac fly allowed Pitt to even things up in the bottom of the inning.
Neither side managed to break through in the ninth, but Georgia Tech made a final push in the 10th, scoring two crucial runs. Edgmon first stunned the Panthers with a solo shot, and Kauf followed with an RBI double. Pitt went down in order in its final opportunity at the plate, handing the Yellow Jackets their first extra-inning victory of the year, 13-11.
Game Notes
- The extra-inning triumph marked Tech’s first of the season, last topping Charlotte, 3-2 (10) on April 23, 2022.
- The Yellow Jackets set season highs of 13 runs and four home runs in the contest, also matching a season-best 13 hits.
- Tech has come away with double-digit hits and nine or more runs in three straight games.
- The White and Gold own double-digit hits in 11 games this season.
- In the circle, Dennis (12-6) tossed the game’s final four innings, earning her 12th win of the season.
- Allen swatted her third home run of the last four games as she leads the team with 11 dingers this season following a two-run shot.
- Four different Yellow Jackets compiled multiple hits on the day
- Kauf went 3-for-6 with an RBI double as her 10th two-bagger of the season not only added a security run in the top of the 10th, but also tied her with Jen Yee (2007, 2009-10) for third in program history in career doubles with 46 apiece.
- Edgmon finished with a pair of hits and three RBI, pushing home two scores with her fourth double this season and launching her first home run of the season that proved to be the game-winning run.
- Dobbins also came away with a pair of hits, both going yard as she drove in three total runs on her second and third career homers.
- Black finished with three RBI of her own, picking up two hits, including a double.
Up Next
Georgia Tech and Pitt will square off one final time to determine the series with the rubber match on Sunday at noon at Vartabedian Field in Pittsburgh. The game will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra.
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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