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Irish Set to Open ACC Championship Against Georgia Tech

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame softball team is set to open the 2023 Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Tournament at home against the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets Wednesday afternoon. First pitch of the second game of the tournament is scheduled for 3:30. Prior to the Fighting Irish and Yellowjackets, Syracuse and Virginia will battle in the opening game of the tournament at 1 p.m.

The Irish enter the tournament as the seven seed, having gone 11-12-1 in ACC action this season and 29-16-1 overall. After dropping or splitting three of the first four ACC series, the Irish finished the year strong, taking three of the final four series, two of which coming against teams seeded higher in the tournament. 

Notre Dame’s offense ranks third in the conference and 17th nationally with a .320 clip. Five players are ranked in the top 25 of ACC hitters with at least 60 at bats. Joley Mitchell leads the team with a .384 clip, hitting nine home runs, nine doubles and is third on the team with 39 RBI. Karina Gaskins and Lexi Orozco are hitting .350 and .349, respectively, each with 14 home runs. Orozco is the team-leader with 44 RBI, while Gaskins adds 40 RBI while drawing an equal number of walks. Carlli Kloss adds 20 extra-base hits, leading the team with 14 doubles and 41 runs scored. 

Payton Tidd has been the workhorse in the circle, throwing 145.0 of 297.0 innings this season. She owns a 3.09 ERA in 28 appearances, starting 23 in her graduate campaign. She’s struck out 102 hitters and limited opponents to just 40 walks. Micaela Kastor owns a 2.64 ERA in 26 appearances. The freshman has made 11 starts, throwing two complete games while leading the team with three saves. He’s struck out 71 hitters in 74.1 innings and holds opponents to a .232 average against. Shannon Becker also adds seven wins, working in 27 games with 12 starts. She adds two saves and 60 strikeouts in 75.2 innings. 

Georgia Tech earned its way into the tournament after seeing Pittsburgh take all three games from NC State last weekend. The Yellowjackets finished the season 25-26, and 7-17 in league action. Georgia Tech earned conference wins over North Carolina, Pitt, Boston College and Virginia during the season. 

Emma Kauf leads the Georgia Tech offense, hitting at a .349 clip with seven home runs and 31 RBI. She also adds a team-best 12 doubles and has swiped 13 bases. Madison Dobbs adds a .336 average with 13 extra-base hits and 12 bags. Sara Beth Allen owns a .236 average, but leads the team with 13 home runs and 35 RBI. Grace Connolley adds 31 RBI with six home runs and six doubles. 

The Yellowjacket pitching staff owns a 4.47 ERA, led by Chandler Dennis. Dennis sports a 3.97 ERA in 38 appearances, making 20 starts. She’s thrown five complete games and picked up three saves in 127.0 innings. Blake Neleman adds a 3.98 ERA in 38 appearances. She’s worked seven complete games in 25 starts, owning 137.1 innings. Opponents are hitting .211 against as she owns a 10-10 record.