KENNESAW, Ga. – Georgia Tech softball (24-25, 6-16 ACC) fell just shy against North Carolina (24-26, 12-9 ACC), dropping a 5-3 decision on Friday night at Bailey Park. Despite the Yellow Jackets bringing the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, the Tar Heels managed to escape on top.
Senior catcher Emma Kauf led way at the plate for the White and Gold as she went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Among the five other Yellow Jackets climbing aboard through the day, junior catcher Sara Beth Allen improved to a team-leading 13 dingers on the season and 14 over her career with a solo smash.
Senior hurlers Chandler Dennis and Blake Neleman served in the circle through the contest as Dennis (13-9) received the loss through four innings of work while Neleman closed out the final three innings in relief.
How it Happened
The Yellow Jackets took the lead in their first opportunity at the dish, adding a run in the bottom of the first. Kauf made her way around the bases to put Georgia Tech on the board, reaching on a single and later working her way out of a pickle to scamper home from second.
Following a scoreless second, the Tar Heels jumped in front with a three-run blast in the top of the third for a 3-1 advantage.
The White and Gold trimmed the lead to one in the bottom of the fourth as junior third baseman Mallorie Black journeyed home. The Cumming, Ga., native singled to start, stealing second thereafter and advancing home on an infield single by freshman left fielder Paige Vukadinovich.
North Carolina moved back up by a pair in the top of the fifth, lacing a solo shot to lead 4-2.
The Jackets responded in the bottom half, launching a solo bomb of their own off the bat of Allen to cut the Tar Heel lead back to one.
Neither side managed to strike one across the board in the sixth, but North Carolina tacked on a security run in the top of the seventh by way of an RBI single.
Down to its last three outs, Tech led off the bottom of the final frame a double courtesy of sophomore center fielder Ella Edgmon, but three outs ensued to hand the Tar Heels a 5-3 win.
Up Next
Georgia Tech will return to Mewborn Field for the remainder of the series, hosting North Carolina for game two on Saturday at noon on The Flats. The game will be broadcast live on ACC Network.
Multimedia
🥎𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐀𝐘🥎
🆚 North Carolina
⏰ 6⃣:3⃣0⃣ p.m.
📍 Kennesaw, Ga.
🏟️ Bailey Park
📊 https://t.co/Oocyc2HVa3#BeGold x #404Institute pic.twitter.com/hcH5Se8Vl7— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 28, 2023
🗓️ Calendar Reminder 🗓️
Today’s @GaTechSoftball matchup vs UNC starts at 6:30pm at 𝘽𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙞𝙣 𝙆𝙚𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙖𝙬, 𝙂𝙖. The remainder of the series is currently on schedule at Mewborn Field.#TogetherWeSwarm 🐝
MORE INFO: https://t.co/6Kkbxi5Ryw
— Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (@GTAthletics) April 28, 2023
𝓢𝓮𝓷𝓲𝓸𝓻 𝓦𝓮𝓮𝓴𝓮𝓷𝓭 starts in The Saw 🔜#BeGold x #404Institute pic.twitter.com/CcodrR27eC
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 28, 2023
Unpopular opinion: We like pickles 🥒@EmmaKauf reaches on a single and later works the UNC infield to scamper in from second 😮💨
B1
🐏0⃣
🐝1⃣#BeGold x #404Institute pic.twitter.com/U9GXcJylEF— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 28, 2023
Catching them 😴
After both single, @JinSileo and @EmmaKauf steal second and third on a soft toss back to the circle 🙇♀️
B3
🐏3⃣
🐝1⃣#BeGold x #404Institute pic.twitter.com/JlqsIwXoe7— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 28, 2023
Turn ✌️@chandlerdenniss and @EmmaKauf combine to strike out the batter and throw out a runner stealing second for an unconventional double play 🥵
T4
🐏3⃣
🐝1⃣#BeGold x #404Institute pic.twitter.com/LOacvjW9z7— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 28, 2023
𝘔𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦 🏃♀️@mallorieblack1 singles and steals second, making her way home on @PVukadinovich‘s infield single 👏👏
B4
🐏3⃣
🐝2⃣#BeGold x #404Institute pic.twitter.com/r0ZAOvQwMs— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 28, 2023
💥𝗦𝗕 𝗦𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗛💥@sballen99 launches a no-doubter over straightaway center 🫡
B5
🐏4⃣
🐝3⃣#BeGold x #404Institute pic.twitter.com/uF1L5Judbg— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 29, 2023
𝙇𝙀𝘼𝘿𝙊𝙁𝙁 𝙇𝘼𝙐𝙉𝘾𝙃 🫢@ella_edgmon gets us started in the potential final frame with a double❕
B7
🐏5⃣
🐝3⃣#BeGold x #404Institute pic.twitter.com/fh0pb8Z4g3— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 29, 2023
Back on The Flats tomorrow.#BeGold x #404Institute pic.twitter.com/3nWsuyQnAM
— Georgia Tech Softball 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@GaTechSoftball) April 29, 2023
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