Georgia Tech Softball Loses 4-3 To Illinois in ACC/Big Ten Challenge Finale

The comeback for the Yellow Jackets fell short on Sunday against Illinois

Jackson Caudell | Feb 19, 2023

After splitting the matchups against Wisconsin (L, 6-1) and Illinois (W, 5-2), Georgia Tech Softball was back in action against the Fighting Illini today in hopes of closing out the ACC/Big Ten Challenge with a win.

Illinois served as the home team today. Blake Neleman was the starting pitcher for the Yellow Jackets today.

Georgia Tech was not able to get anything going in the first inning, which left the door open for Illinois to strike first in the bottom of the first and that is exactly what they did. In their first at-bat of the game, Kelly Ryono hit a solo home run to give Illinois a 1-0 lead and then Avrey Steiner was walked. Neleman was then pulled from the game and Kinsey Norton took over.

Despite Illinois getting runners on second and third, Georgia Tech was able to get out of the inning down just 1-0.

The top of the second was the same as the top of the first. Georgia Tech went down 1-2-3 and Illinois was back up to bat at the bottom of the 2nd.

Norton was then able to get two strikeouts in the second and the game went to the third inning still just 1-0.

The offense for Georgia Tech struggled to get going in the top of the 3rd and they left the inning still without a hit. Dobbins, Dupree, and Sileo either flew out or grounded out.

Norton struck out two more and Illinois left the inning without a hit. Norton did well in filling in for Neleman today and struck out four batters in three innings to start.

Georgia Tech Softball — Georgia Tech came up short against Illinois 4-3 / Georgia Tech Athletics

Georgia Tech finally got a hit when Paige Vukadinovich tripled and then that led the way for Emma Kauf to bring her home with an RBI double to tie the game 1-1. Then, Sarah Beth Allen hit a two-run home run to take a 3-1 lead against the Fighting Illini.

Norton continued her strong day pitching and set the Illini down in another 1-2-3 inning.

At the top of the fifth, Dupree singled and then stole second to get a runner-in-scoring position for Georgia Tech and it looked like Georgia Tech would add more runs to the board. However, Kauf would strike out swinging to end the inning.

Illinois cut the lead to 3-2 after an RBI double from Megan Ward and that was the end of the day for Norton. She was replaced by Chandler Dennis. It was a great outing for Norton though, pitching four innings, allowing only two hits, and striking out four batters.

Illinois tied the game on a fielder's choice and the Fighting Illini had runners on first and second with one out. Delaney Rummell had an RBI double to take the lead 4-3. That would be the score heading into the sixth inning and Georgia Tech was going to need to mount a comeback.

The Yellow Jackets were not able to get anything done in the sixth inning and they looked like they were only going to have one more inning left to try and come back.

It was 4-3 heading to the top of the 7th and Georgia Tech was going to need to score at least one run to keep the game going. Reese Hunter hit a leadoff single to start the inning. Dupree would reach first on a fielder's choice after, but it cost Georgia Tech another out and they were down to their last one. Dupree managed to steal second to get into scoring position and then Sileo singled and advanced Dupree to 3rd. Sileo would advance to 2nd on a wild pitch and Georgia Tech had runners in scoring position with Vukadinovich at bat. However, she would line out and the game was over.

Georgia Tech Softball is back in action on Tuesday against Kennesaw State. The first pitch is set for 5:00 p.m.

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