The Georgia Tech softball team (25-16, 9-6 ACC) competed in Auburn, Alabama this weekend in the War Eagle Classic. This included Friday's game against Auburn and Saturday's doubleheader between Auburn and Louisiana Tech. The Jackets split the game against Auburn and fell just short Saturday against Louisiana Tech.
There were some very notable highlights this weekend, the biggest one being Sarah Beth Allen's triple home run in the game against Auburn. Allen became the fourth Yellow Jacket player to hit three home runs in a game, and the RBI gave Tech its first win against the Tigers at Jane B. Moore Field since 2002. Mallory Black hit a bomb with a three-run home run of her own. Run and Grand Slam. She currently has 16 home runs and 52 RBIs on the year. This made her the first ACC player to reach 50 RBIs and the fourth fastest to reach 50 RBIs in Division I softball. As a team, the Jackets hit seven home runs on Saturday, bringing their season total to 72, the fifth-most in program history. This includes five grand slams in the year, the second-most in program history. On the mound, Sophie Boyles picked up her team's seventh win of the season and the only win of the weekend.
Let the game begin.
Georgia Tech suffered an absolutely heartbreaking loss Friday night to start the weekend. The Jackets gave up four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and lost to Auburn, 4-3. The game got off to a heated start, with Mallory Black hitting a home run that drove home Domingue and Edgemon, giving the Jackets a 3-0 lead after one inning. Boyles went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the first inning, allowing only two runners on base until he allowed two singles in the bottom of the fifth. She was ejected from the game after this, and Auburn took the reins from her, finishing the game with a 4-3 victory.
The second game was against Conference USA opponent Louisiana Tech. They started working quickly and after his first two innings he led 2-0. Tech responded well with Jaden Gailey hitting an RBI double before reaching home on Reece Hunter's home run. Tech went up 3-2 and held the lead for the most part, but the Bulldogs' offense came alive, scoring 11 points between the fifth and sixth innings. Black hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning and a grand slam in the seventh to bring the score to 13-10 and try to rebuild Tech. Tech was unable to generate enough points to bring about the victory, and the game ended at that score.
Tech was 0-2 over the weekend, but it never gave up. The offense of the day started with a few singles and the Jackets started with a 1-0 lead. Gary hit a double to left-center field, ending the inning with a three-run lead. Allen and Black hit back-to-back home runs in the second, giving Tech a 5-0 lead after the second. Not wanting to be left behind, Auburn fought back with a two-run home run and added another run in the third inning to narrow Tech's lead. Sarah Beth Allen hit her second home run of the day, and two other Jackets homered for an 8-3 lead. The Tigers struggled to score 1 run in the 4th inning and 2 runs in the 5th inning, making the score 8-6. After Gin Sileo opened the sixth inning with a beautiful bunt single, Allen hit his third home run of the day and the Jackets reached double digits. Auburn roared back but ultimately fell short. Tech won a great game with his 10-9 and split the game with Auburn.
Georgia Tech returns to Atlanta next week to take on Alabama State on Tuesday at 6 p.m. They are scheduled to host Louisville at Mewborn Field this weekend.
