Hunter Walk-Off Stuns No. 18 Tigers, 2-1 – Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

THE FLATS – Georgia Tech softball (12-8) upset No. 18 Auburn (20-3) with a walk-off, 2-1 victory thanks to freshman catcher Reese Hunter’s game-winning home run on Wednesday at Mewborn Field. In a low-scoring affair, Hunter launched her second career home run with one down in the bottom of the seventh to propel the Yellow Jackets to their first ranked triumph of the season.

Senior hurler Blake Neleman held the Tigers in check from the circle, nearly tossing a complete game as her gem included seven punchouts and just one run allowed in 6.2 innings of work. Fellow senior right hander Chandler Dennis struck out the only batter she faced in what proved to be Auburn’s final chance at the plate, receiving credit for the win to move to 7-3 on the year.

Both sides controlled the game from the circle most of the day as neither squad allowed a run to cross the plate through the first five innings. Auburn broke the stalemate in the top of the sixth with a solo home run, but Georgia Tech answered in the bottom half as sophomore second baseman Grace Connelly followed junior shortstop Jin Sileo’s leadoff double with an RBI single to even the tally. Entering the seventh locked at 1-1, Neleman and Dennis shut the door on the Tigers in the top of the frame, priming Hunter for her walk-off rocket to secure the Jackets’ 2-1, upset victory over the 18^th ranked Tigers.

Game Notes

• Georgia Tech’s upset marked its first ranked win of the season, now sitting at 1-1 against No. 18 teams in the country.
• The Yellow Jackets ranked victory marked the first since a 9-8 victory over No. 25 Notre Dame on April 1, 2022.
• The White and Gold remain undefeated against Auburn at home, now sitting at 5-0 on The Flats.
• Leading the five Jackets with hits on the day was junior third baseman Mallorie Black as she went 2-for-3 with a triple.
• Hunter’s home run marked the second of her young collegiate career and her first in walk-off fashion.
• Neleman and Dennis have allowed just one run over the last three contests, combining for 24 strikeouts and only 10 hits allowed over the last 21 innings pitched.

Up Next

Georgia Tech will hit the road for its first conference series, heading to Virginia (17-5) for the weekend series beginning Friday at 5 p.m. in Charlottesville, Va. Games one and two of the series will be appear on ACC Network Extra while the series finale will be broadcast on ACC Network.

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