After a comfortable 2-0 win over Bolivia in the opener of the Copa América tournament, the United States Men’s National Team drew Panama in their second match of the group stage on Tuesday, June 27. Although the United States was able to shut out Bolivia, they needed to convert on their goal-scoring opportunities against a Panama side that beat the United States in penalties during their last matchup. Interestingly, manager Gregg Berhalter kept the same starting XI in both the Bolivia and Panama matches in a show of decisiveness and a belief in this group’s potential. 

Sadly, the first 20 minutes of the game were not a great display of this potential. Midfielder Weston McKennie scored a goal in the seventh minute, but it was called back upon Video Assistant Referee (VAR) consultation. Goalie Matt Turner, who is a proficient shot stopper, went for the ball on a long cross and wound up hurt after Panama midfielder Cesar Blackman crashed into him. Turner’s leg injury forced manager Berhalter to eventually replace him with Ethan Horvath. He stayed in the game, but it was obvious that he was rattled by the hit. To make matters worse, winger Tim Weah lost his cool and struck Panama player Roderick Miller in the head at the 18 minute mark. He received a red card for his actions, getting thrown out of an incredibly pivotal game for the team. 

Fortunately, left-back Antonee Robinson found striker Folarin Balogun and delivered a perfect ball off the inside of the post to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute. Still, it was going to be a challenge to hold that lead. The combination of Turner’s injury and Weah’s absence —forcing the United States to play 10 vs. 11 — allowed Panama to make the score 1-1 after Blackman got past Turner for their first goal of the game. Turner nearly made a save, but the ball inched past his right hand.

The game turned scrappy shortly after the equalizing shot. United States captain Christian Pulisic, the team’s star midfielder, broke into Panama’s box and promptly got hit on what looked like a foul. The referees held their whistle, but had to issue a yellow card after full-back Joe Scally got shoulder-checked by Panamanian forward Eduardo Gurrero. After a Balogun attempt bounced off the crossbar, both teams went into halftime. Horvath replaced Turner and Berhalter switched things up for the United States by going to a more defensively-oriented 5-3-1 formation. Prioritizing defense with a 1-1 score indicates Berhalter was largely playing for the draw. 

In the second half, the United States instantly gave their fans a scare after Horvath made a narrow save in the 51st minute. Pulisic sent a nice pass towards Balogun, but he was not able to capitalize on it. Balogun’s contributions to the United States’ attacks were vital, but Berhalter made the decision to sub him out for defender Ricardo Pepi in the 72nd minute. It was a confusing call to make because of Balogun’s offensive importance, and it would have increased the chances of another United States goal if Balogun remained in the lineup. The decision loomed especially large in the final 20 minutes of the game. The United States’ best chance for a late lead came when McKennie sent a cross towards Pepi that he could not head in. Now desperately needing a defensive stop, the United States’ efforts went unnoticed as Panama took advantage of an opportunity to put the nail in the coffin. Midfielder Abdiel Ayarza sent a pass straight to the foot of forward Jose Fajardo, who launched it into the back of the net for a 2-1 Panama lead. 

In a stroke of luck for the United States, Panama’s manpower advantage vanished after midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla was sent off after fouling on a tackle attempt. This gave Pulisic an opening to find defender Chris Richards for a game-winning header, but Richards’ header flew over the goal and sealed the 2-1 loss.    

The United States lost this game due to time of possession, Panama’s aggression and passivity in their own attack. Panama had the ball for almost 74% of the match and had 13 shots on goal to the United States’ six. Those are difficult factors to work against, especially considering Panama’s 18 fouls often came in critical moments. Already on the hot seat for his previous performances as manager, this was not a great showing from Berhalter. It should be noted that he had fairly difficult circumstances to work with, seeing as how he played with a man down for practically the entire game. Still, the substitution of Balogun for Pepi drew ire from fans, as well as switching to a formation primarily designed for a draw instead of a win. Not bringing in midfielder Yunus Musah, whose pace, possession and defense would have been helpful in the game, is a decision with ramifications that loomed large in the clutch. He and the rest of the team will need to be better in a monumental matchup vs. Uruguay. Uruguay is the odds-on favorite to advance out of Group C, which includes the United States, Bolivia and Panama. They have earned that designation by demolishing Bolivia, 5-0, in their matchup immediately following the United States– Panama match. 

Uruguay is a challenging matchup because they have a deep, talented roster who will force the United States to play far above the standard they have shown thus far. Defenders like José Giménez and Ronald Araujo will threaten the United States’ offensive attack while being supplemented by star midfielder Federico Valverde. They have plenty of offensive firepower of their own with talents like right winger Facundo Pellistri, legendary striker Luis Suarez and forward Darwin Nuñez. It is a do-or-die matchup for the United States—they cannot afford any managerial gaffes or breaks in composure if they are going to make it out of this group stage on their own merits. If they lose against Uruguay, their Copa América hopes rely on Bolivia upsetting Panama and point tiebreakers. 

Fans will find out whether the United States can pull off the upset on Monday, July 1.

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Making the first pick of the NBA draft is a double-edged sword. For some franchises, it can change their entire trajectory. Just ask the Orlando Magic, who made the NBA Finals after taking superstar centers Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard at the first spot in the 1992 and 2004 drafts, respectively. Conversely, the wrong choice can lead to wasted seasons, rife with roster upheaval and organizational chaos. The Portland Trail Blazers would jump at the chance to re-do taking center Greg Oden over one of the best scorers of all time in forward Kevin Durant in the 2007 draft. 

In other words, the Atlanta Hawks holding the first overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft is not a decision to underrate. After a mediocre 36-49 season, hitting on this pick could fuel postseason runs as early as in the 2024-25 season. Therefore, it is worth understanding who exactly the Hawks might select in a draft that lacks a consensus top player. 

First, it is important to understand the team’s current makeup. It starts with the All-Star backcourt duo of point guard Trae Young and shooting guard  Dejounte Murray. Young is one of the best playmakers in the NBA — albeit a flawed defender — while Murray is known for his defensive instincts. At the small forward spot, Jalen Johnson is the prototypical “3&D” forward, shooting a respectable 36% from three-point range and taking on the toughest defensive assignments. Role players like guard Bogdan Bogdanovic and forward DeAndre Hunter are also capable of providing an offensive spark off the bench. It should be noted that Atlanta had the fourth-worst team defensive rating in the NBA last year, so the Hawks may look to boost the defense..

Given that context, three prospects jump out. Forward Alexandre Sarr who played for the Perth Wildcats of the National Basketball League (NBL) in Australia has been linked to the Hawks for months because of his defense. Standing at seven feet tall with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, he shows excellent shot-blocking ability, recording 1.5 blocks per game for the Wildcats last season. Sarr has the height to be a good rim protector, but he lacks the strength to hold his own against stronger centers. Even so, he immediately projects as a high-level perimeter defender who can execute defensive switches at an elite level. His offensive game is the real question. The Hawks played at the fifth-fastest pace in the NBA last year; Sarr fits that tempo and routinely converts defensive steals or blocks into offense. He also makes good playmaking decisions when he has the ball. However, he struggles to score in isolation and has poor dribbling skills. He scored 9.7 points on 52% from the field and 29.8% from three on limited volume. While he has upside as a shooter due to solid mechanics, he needs to develop his offensive skills more.

Connecticut center Donovan Clingan is also a compelling option. His 7-foot-2, 280 pound frame makes him an NBA-ready rim protector instantly. Stylistically, he compares well to Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, who Snyder built top defenses around during his tenure as the head coach of the Utah Jazz. Clingan can pull down rebounds and is an impressive interior scorer, making 64% of his field goals. Running pick-and-rolls with Young and Clingan could easily become a staple of the Hawks offense. However, he does not have the lateral agility to cover on the perimeter, finishing last in the shuttle run, lane agility and three-quarter sprint at the NBA Combine. He shows little upside as a three-point shooter, as evidenced by taking only nine three-pointers last season, and connecting on only 56% of his free throws, indicating a lack of shooting touch. 

If the Hawks want a more developed offensive player, small forward Zaccharie Risacher is an intriguing shooter with nice defensive tools. He shot 40% from three-point range last season for the French club JL Bourg. His shooting would be very valuable in a Hawks lineup that ranked 22nd and 16th in three-point percentage and attempts, respectively. Even at 6-foot-9, he kept up with smaller and faster point guards on the perimeter even though his defensive production was limited. One concern with Risacher’s game is that he was not very efficient with his offensive possessions, as evidenced by a PER (player efficiency rating) of 15.19 barely above the average of 15.00. Despite his strong three-point numbers, he only shoots 70% from the free-throw line and does not draw contact, only drawing three free throw attempts per game. Even as more of an offensive threat, he is not much of a playmaker and averaged a paltry 1.4 assists per game. Drafting Risacher would be a bet on his synergy with Young, allowing him to convert open three-pointers and his defensive tools coming along to form a nice pairing with Johnson. 

While betting odds — at the time of this article’s writing — suggest that one of those three players will be the pick at the top of the draft, it is worth discussing more unlikely directions that Atlanta could go in. Small forward Matas Buzelis, who played for the G League Ignite, is an athletic wing who profiles well as a shot-blocker at the professional level. He was a double-digit scorer, albeit on poor efficiency, and shows some playmaking ability. However, his inefficiency and poor shooting numbers make his profile worrying. Kentucky guards Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham both profile as excellent shooters, but their lack of size coupled with Young and Murray already being on the roster make either Sheppard or Dillingham somewhat redundant. Buzelis’s teammate, forward Ron Holland, has phenomenal athletic tools and scored almost 20 points on aggressive drives to the rim last season. The problem is that Holland’s shooting is a massive projection and he will take a lot of development to deliver on his potential. 

Even if there is not a slam-dunk selection available at the top pick, the Hawks have a variety of intriguing options. Whoever it is, the priority should be to select a wing or center that can contribute to the Hawks’ defense or bolster their shooting. Young is still a very capable primary option and finding pieces that fit around him is the Hawks’ clearest path towards contention.

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Although thousands of miles separate India and Tech, one of its oldest traditions finds new life on campus every spring.

On March 10, Jackets ran across Tech Green and doused each other in a stunning array of brightly colored powder to commemorate the Hindu festival of Holi. The festival is traditionally celebrated on March 25 across India, but celebrations across the world often occur on a variety of days within March in accordance with the Hindu lunisolar calendar month of Phalguna. In total, nearly 32 million people across the world “play Holi.”

The festival’s traditions originate from Hindu mythology. The throwing of colored powder is thought to represent the love between the god Krishna and his consort, Radha. The blue-skinned Krishna asks his adoptive mother, Yashoda, why he does not have Radha’s fair skin. Yashoda gives him a solution — while playing a game with Radha, he colors her face with powder so that the two are indistinguishable. Today, individual identities fade away under a rainbow haze as friends and strangers alike pelt each other with powder in honor of Krishna’s example. 

Tech’s celebration was organized by the India Club at Georgia Tech (ICGT).

“India Club’s mission is to spread Indian culture on campus,” said Vasav Jain, third-year CS and co-president of ICGT. “It’s one of our favorite festivals, 

so being able to share that feeling here is at the essence of what we do. I find Holi so special because I love dancing and the festival’s entire premise is playing with color and dancing — it really brings out your inner child.” 

Jain’s counterpart, Pratham Mehta, co-president and third-year CS, felt his connection to the Holi celebration is a lifelong one. 

“My birthday falls on Holi, so it’s one of the most special and auspicious days of the year for me. It’s even more special to celebrate it here,” Mehta said. 

Planning for the event started last fall, when Jain and Mehta ordered colors for the event. In the past, the potential for damage to Tech Green has kept the event from being hosted there. 

Fortunately, Jain and Mehta, along with the rest of ICGT’s executive board, were able to secure the field after making the decision to use organic color powders. 

“Within two days, it was impossible to tell that the event had even happened,” Mehta said. To add to the authenticity of the event, ICGT also provided thandai, a traditional north Indian cold drink of milk, nuts, saffron seeds and rose petals served during the festival. The group was able to organize the entire festival on a budget of $3,000. 

However, that does not mean everything in the planning process went smoothly. On the event’s original date of March 9, rainy conditions forced a postponement. In mere hours, ICGT had to figure out how to re-market the event and plan around other events on Sunday, March 10. Fortunately, the group was able to reschedule for that Sunday.

The change in time did not damper the turnout. Students came ready to play amidst popular Hindi songs like “Rang Barse Silsila” and “Balam Pichkari.” They emptied $3 color packets on their fellow Jackets for three hours between 3-6 p.m. in a vibrant display of Tech’s community coming together in celebration. That feeling of community is why students like Aakristhaa Kumar, second-year CS, find Holi so special. 

“I didn’t really have much experience with Holi play, but my first time was during my freshman year with my roommates and friend group. I really enjoyed it and now it’s become a tradition for my friends and I,” Kumar said.

As an international student from the United Arab Emirates, Kumar felt that the event celebrated the sense of belonging and close-knit community that she has found in her time at Tech. 

For Aastha Singh, second-year ME, playing Holi is nothing new. While growing up in Gainesville, Fla., Singh recounted how her local community all got together to celebrate every year. 

“Everyone would come out to a huge field at the University of Florida and play together … it was a really wonderful atmosphere,” Singh said. Upon arriving at Tech, she was excited to find that the tradition continued. 

While playing with the colors, each Holi celebrant is drawn to a particular favorite color. 

“Personally, I am a big fan of the yellow powder — it’s a lot of fun to make my friends look like Minions from ‘Despicable Me,’” Singh said. 

Jain has a slightly different take about choosing his favorite color. 

“I really like throwing the blue color because it makes people look like Smurfs,” he said. Blue is also traditionally associated with Krishna and holds a spiritual meaning. Sometimes, though, it is as simple as just liking the way that a particular powder looks. 

“Red is a really pretty color and it just makes everything look nice,” Kumar said. 

Mehta is also a fan of the brighter colors of Holi. 

“I think the vibrancy of pink stands out — I really like pink powder,” he said. 

Regardless of how one chooses to play Holi, the feeling of community connects each celebrant. For Mehta and Jain, the feeling of playing with the color and seeing everyone happy completely justified the time and effort put into the planning process. 

“Every year, we get this one shot of everyone throwing the color in the air. It’s a really nice feeling to be the ones in the front seeing that and knowing your team came together to accomplish this,” Mehta said on the event.

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With the Summer Olympic Games rapidly approaching this summer, the best of the United States’ track and field athletes will take their marks at Stade de France in hopes of supplementing the 335 gold medals won across all track and field events. That legacy of dominance is inextricably linked with the African American identity. Pioneers like Jesse Owens, Carl Lewis and Allyson Felix redefined the sport through their blazing speed on the track. Owens and Lewis also set records in the pit as some of the most impressive long jumpers ever. However, often forgotten in that conversation is American high jumper Alice Coachman. As the first Black woman to ever win a gold medal, her legacy is a display of both American perseverance — and hypocrisy. 

From the very beginning, Coachman received little support in her athletic career. Growing up in Albany, Ga. amidst the Great Depression meant athletics automatically took a backseat to work and school. She worked alongside her family to pick cotton, plums and pecans. Jim Crow-era segregation laws relegated her first track and field education to running on the dirt paths and through the fields of Albany. Still, Coachman quickly figured out that she was incredibly fast through playing softball and baseball with the local boys. Her father disapproved of her inclination towards these “unladylike” activities, but her aunt, Carrie Spry and Coachman’s fifth-grade teacher, Cora Bailey, both encouraged Coachman to keep running. It paid off — she trained with the Tuskegee Institute track team as a high school sophomore. Coachman eventually finished high school at Tuskegee before graduating and going on to become a dual-sport athlete (basketball and track) for the school’s collegiate division. She ended up winning national championships in the 50 m, 100 m relay and 400 m relay while winning another three national titles for the Tuskegee basketball team. However, her true calling was the high jump. 

Between 1939 and 1948, Coachman won nine straight national titles in the high jump. A clear candidate to represent the U.S. at the Olympics, she was not able to compete at either the 1940 or 1944 games due to World War II. When the 1948 games came around, Coachman unfortunately suffered a back injury right before the qualifying trials. It made her hesitant to compete, but she overcame her hesitation and qualified with a new U.S. high jump record in the trials. 

Her dominance went global on an August afternoon in Wembley Stadium. On her first try, she set the track world ablaze with a record-breaking 5’6 1/8” jump despite suffering from the same back injury that affected her in the qualifier. As King George VI of Britain put a gold medal around her neck, her place among the pantheon of American track and field should have been secure. However, upon returning home, she experienced the same sort of two-faced treatment that plagued many Black athletes of her time. People were so proud of her accomplishment that they declared an “Alice Coachman Day” in Georgia and organized a 175-mile motorcade in her honor from Atlanta to her hometown of Albany. 

Yet, once Coachman returned home, the event fell victim to the all-too-familiar segregation laws. White and Black townsfolk sat in separate sections as the mayor of Albany, J.W. Smith, praised Coachman for her accomplishment. Still, he refused to shake her hand. Coachman was even forced to leave her own celebration by way of a side door. In an interview with NPR, Coachman later recounted that “to come back home … and you can’t even get a handshake from the mayor? Wasn’t a good feeling.”

She stepped away from competition at the age of 24 and went on to earn her degree in home economics from Albany State University, becoming a teacher and coach. Despite her relative obscurity today, she was named to both the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1975 and the U.S. Olympic &
Paralympic Hall of Fame in 2004. 

Objectively, Alice Coachman’s story is one of progress. The historical nature of a southern Georgia town celebrating a Black woman on the front page of their newspaper and throwing her a parade during the Jim Crow era should not be discounted.

However, it is equally true that her story is a reminder of the dehumanization of African American athletes. Neither their incredible talent nor their perseverance could bridge the carefully maintained barrier between them and white America. When Albany’s mayor refused to shake her hand, it was made abundantly clear to Coachman that she would be celebrated as a symbol rather than a person. 

It is important that American fans are aware of both the awe-inspiring and disappointing parts of Coachman’s story. Being aware of the history and people behind the medals and competitions only enhances the appreciation for what they achieve. Therefore, while watching the Olympics this summer and cheering on the athletes, remember the leaps Alice Coachman made for the nation.

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After a 10-0 drubbing of the Georgia State Panthers, the Jackets had the chance to show they were the top dogs in the state with a three-game series against the 8-1 University of Georgia Bulldogs. Unfortunately, their Friday game was not the only thing suspended as the Jackets’ hitting and solid pitching vanished in a 3-1 loss on Saturday and 11-9 loss on Sunday versus the Bulldogs. 

Beyond the historical context, where Tech holds a 61-56 record since 1990, the Bulldogs were a good litmus test for the Jackets’ offensive prowess and pitching performance. Tech’s 23 homers lead the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) while starters like junior pitcher Aeden Finateri and sophomore pitcher Carson Ballard went five innings deep in their respective starts against Cornell and Georgia State. Repeating their performance on the mound and at the plate against a team like Georgia would be difficult, but the Jackets seemed up to the challenge.

Unfortunately, Friday’s game at MacNease Park did not inspire optimism. While the torrents of rain forced the game to be suspended in the middle of the fifth inning, Tech was losing, 9-3. Junior pitcher Camron Hill looked good initially, retiring three straight batters. 

At the plate, senior first baseman/pitcher Cam Jones belted a solo runs-batted-in (RBI) homer over center field. However, the Bulldogs started to figure out Hill’s pitches and belted nine runs in over the next four innings. Georgia took the lead on a three-run homer from graduate student outfielder Dillon Carter and extended it after another second 3-RBI homer from sophomore Lukas Farris. In the interest of player safety, the game was suspended and a future resume date has not yet been scheduled. 

Saturday’s game was a much cleaner affair, but ended in a disappointing 3-1 loss. However, Finatieri did everything he could to give the Jackets the win. The right-handed pitcher went six innings, giving up four hits and one run. Unfortunately, the offense could not give him any run support. 

After Finateri surrendered an early run in the bottom of the second, the Jackets quickly answered at the top of the third. Sophomore outfielder Parker Brosius sent the pitch from graduate student pitcher Christian Mracna deep into right field to tie the game up. However, the offense failed to score another run for the rest of the afternoon. Sensational freshman outfielder Drew Burress, who currently leads the ACC in home runs, hit a triple at the top of the fifth inning that ended up fizzling out without any runs. 

Although they are among the top-five in the ACC in both home runs and slugging percentage, their batting average and total hits are among the bottom four teams of the ACC. As a result, their consistency at the plate has suffered and it showed on Saturday. Still, the defense came to play — shortstop Payton Green found Jones on a beautiful double play to keep the game tied 1-1. Unfortunately, when Finateri turned the game over to the bullpen, freshman pitcher Tate McKee and Jones both gave up runs that the Jackets’ bats failed to answer at the plate.

Because of the suspension of Friday’s game, the Jackets still had a chance to even the series in Sunday’s neutral-site game in Lawrenceville, Ga. at Coolray Field. However, the largely excellent pitching and dismal hitting from Saturday reversed as the Jackets lost an 11-9 heartbreaker to cement the dissapointing series loss.

Junior right-handed pitcher Logan McGuire got the ball for the series-clinching game and gave the Jackets a solid five innings of work. While he did give up two runs, the runs were on only three hits and he accumulated a career-high nine strikeouts on eighteen batters faced. After an injury-riddled 2023 season, it is good to see McGuire rounding into form as he figures to be a key part of Tech’s 2024 starting rotation. Neither team got going at the plate until Jones sprung second baseman Mike Becchetti for the score to give Tech the 1-0 edge. Showing off his power, catcher Matthew Ellis then belted a two-RBI homer deep into right field to extend the lead to 4-0. 

Becchetti, who hits second in the Tech lineup, accrued another run by slapping the baseball into the middle of the field to score Burress. Buress reached second base on an earlier double after hitting from his leadoff spot in the batting order. Now holding a five-run lead, Bulldogs sophomore infielder Kolby Branch located McGuire’s pitch and sent it back to give Georgia two runs. However, freshman third baseman Ryan Jaros forced a competitive at-bat to get a critical run over with two outs on the board at the bottom of the fifth. Again, Georgia came back with another run but found themselves in a 9-3 hole after mental lapses gifted Tech three free runs. With the game firmly in hand at 9-3, the Jackets had every chance to win this game. Unfortunately, Tech captured defeat from the jaws of victory as their bullpen collapse coincided with a cold stretch at the plate. 

Over the last three innings, the Bulldogs tagged the Tech bullpen to the tune of eight unanswered runs to take a 11-9 victory. Five different relievers gave up runs, but Tech could not do anything against Georgia’s bullpen to preserve the once-sizable lead. 

Despite the series loss, Burress’s sizzling start to the year recieved recognition as the Tech freshman  was named the Perfect Game College Baseball Player of the Week.

Tech fans should look for him — and the rest of the team — to rebound against the Northeastern Huskies on Wednesday, March 6 before taking on the Youngstown State Penguins in a four-game weekend home series at MacNease Park.

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After a valiant effort against No. 6 NC State where sophomore guard Kara Dunn’s last-second three was not enough to salvage a one-point heartbreaking loss in overtime, the female Jackets looked like they could put a satisfying exclamation on the season against their next two opponents, No. 20 Louisville and the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Despite the 14-spot difference in ranking, Louisville still posed a formidable challenge for the Jackets. 

The Cardinals rank fifth in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in points per game at 74.9 points per game while holding opponents to a respectable 62.8 points per game. They also boast the conference’s third-best turnover margin, indicating that Tech would need to force them into mistakes.

By halftime, it looked like the game was already over. After taking the lead at the seven-minute mark in the first quarter, the Cardinals never relinquished it for the rest of the half. The Jackets also had seven turnovers in a rather disjointed first quarter. Dunn scored the first points of the quarter off the dish from junior forward Kayla Blackshear, but the Tech defense could not stop graduate student Sydney Taylor from hitting two threes in quick succession to put the Cardinals up, 8-4. The Cardinals then ballooned the score to a 19-9 lead, but sophomore guard Tonie Morgan and freshman guard Rusne Augustinaite both sank jumpers with a minute remaining to make it 21-13. The second quarter started off better — Morgan scored all six points to open the second quarter. Blackshear poked the ball away from Louisville senior forward Olivia Cochran, and it started to look like Tech was going to mount a come-back as the deficit shrunk to six. However, Cardinals freshman forward Elif Istanbullogu responded with a momentum-quenching three. From there, the Cardinals maintained their double-digit lead and took a 43-28 lead into halftime. Morgan’s 14 first-half points helped the Jackets stay in the game, but Tech needed more from its offense. The bench only produced five points in the first half to Louisville’s 32. 

They found the spark they needed early in the second half. Fifth-year guard Sydney Johnson found sophomore guard Ines Noguero for the three-pointer to open the half, which ignited an 8-2 Tech run. Unfortunately, the Louisville offense went on a 8-2 run of their own to extend the lead to 17. Tech could not connect on its three-pointers in order to keep up and a three from Cardinals junior guard Jayda Curry ended the 3rd quarter with a Louisville lead of 63-40. 

Now needing a massive fourth quarter, Tech opened the quarter on another 8-2 run to cut the lead to 15. They did an excellent job of hustling for second-chance point — namely Dunn and fifth-year forward Aixa Wone Aranaz had a sequence early in the quarter where both kept the possession alive — their persistence paid off after Dunn connected on the layup. 

Dunn’s increased rim pressure culminated in three straight free throws before Blackshear connected on two layups of her own to shrink the Tech deficit to 13. However, Louisville forced Tech’s defense to foul and sank four straight free throws to get the lead back up to sixteen with three minutes left. With the game firmly in hand, the Cardinals coasted to a comfortable 80-62 win. Tech had no answer for Taylor, who outscored the Cardinals’ starting lineup with 31 points off the bench. 

In their last home game of the season, the Jackets hoped to put the sting of their defeat behind them and send the graduating seniors out in style for their final appearance at McCamish. Their opponent, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, provided an excellent opportunity to rebound. The Demon Deacons have scored the fewest points per game in the ACC at 59.7, shoot the conference’s worst field goal percentage at 38.8% and also average the conference’s fewest rebounds per game at 30.3. However, the underdog visitors looked rather comfortable in the first quarter. 

The Jackets looked off from three-point range, missing eight of their nine deep attempts and only hit 28.6% of their attempts from the field. Noguero forced an early turnover by stripping the ball from Wake Forest forward Malaya Cowles and pulled down multiple timely defensive rebounds. 

However, Tech’s offensive woes carried over into this contest and extended into the second quarter. Although Dunn hit a three to cut the lead to two early in the quarter, shots from beyond the arc continued to fall short and the offense stagnated. Wake Forest held a 15-point lead with 2:40 left in the half, largely due to the efforts of junior guard Elise Williams, who scored ten points in the second quarter. Still, when the buzzer sounded for halftime, the Jackets were only down by ten at 33-23. Augustinaite hit a three to break a nearly seven-minute stretch without a made Tech three-pointer. If the first half was listless, the Jackets found renewed purpose in the third quarter. They scored 23 points to Wake Forest’s 12 and opened the half on a 7-2 run. Morgan pushed the team’s pace, turning steals into fastbreaks that she either got fouled on or converted into a made basket. After Noguero sunk a pair of free throws, Blackshear then converted a tough layup through two defenders before Johnson netted a three-pointer to make it a manageable three-point deficit, 39-36. 

Morgan then swished the jumper on the rebound from Noguero to make it a one-point game that Dunn tied up on free throws. Wake Forest answered back with a jumper of their own to make it 41-39 before Augustinaite hit the biggest three-pointer of the game to give the Jackets their first lead since the early first quarter. Tech then hung on to close out the quarter with a slim lead, 46-45.

The fourth quarter was a tale of two parts – an excellent beginning and disappointing ending. After big moments in the third, Augustinaite and Dunn continued to stay hot from the field. However, the game changed between the six and three minute mark. Tech could not string any sort of offensive consistency to take the lead and fell after Williams iced the game on free throws. 

In spite of the losses, the Jackets’ graduating players deserved to be recognized as program leaders. Johnson, senior guard Avyonce Carter, Aranaz and fifth-year guard Caitlyn Wilson left it all on the floor in their final appearance at McCamish. They will play against Miami on Sunday, Mar. 3  before heading to Greensboro, NC for the ACC Tournament.

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Coming off a commanding 9-4 win against the local Georgia State University (GSU) Panthers, the Jackets looked to build some momentum with a strong showing in the I-75 Challenge. Since 2017, the tournament puts the Jackets up against three teams in a six-game showcase testing the team’s mettle. Fortunately, they showed out by winning six straight against the University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG) Spartans, Army Black Knights, Robert Morris Colonials, UNCG again and a double-header against the Ball State Cardinals. 

Sophomore pitcher Jaidyn Studebaker got the ball for the weekend’s opening game against UNCG on Friday, Feb. 23 and gave the Jackets three innings of solid work. She had an especially nice 1-2-3 sequence at the top of the first, but got tagged for one run in the second and five runs in the third. Tech’s bats also struggled through the first three innings, giving no run support and failing to make a dent in the 6-0 lead. Fortunately, Tech found itself in the fourth inning. 

Junior pitcher Sophia Voyles came in to relieve Studebaker and quieted the UNCG bats across the next four innings, throwing seven strikeouts and yielding only one run on three hits. 

The Jackets’ offense responded in kind — the infield trio of graduate student Tiffany Domingue, sophomore Paige Vukadinovich and senior Jin Sileo hit three straight singles before junior leadoff hitter and center fielder Ella Edgmon sent Domingue home with a solo runs-batted-in (RBI) single. 

Facing Tech senior catcher Sara Beth Allen, the pitch got away from UNCG sophomore pitcher Rhyann Jones and hit Allen. As a result, Tech scored two easy runs on Allen’s bases-loaded walk and a subsequent walk forced by senior third baseman Mallorie Black. Junior utility Madison Dobbins capped off the dominant seven-run inning capped off with a huge, three-RBI blast deep into Mewborn Field. The Jackets’ lineup followed up their impressive fourth inning with a second-straight seven-run inning. In only two innings, they collected 14 runs after Allen, Black, Dobbins and sophomore infielder Jayden Gailey all sent runs across the plate regardless of who UNCG put on the mound. Tech’s dominant showing against the Spartans ended in a 14-7 rout. 

In their second Friday game, Tech handily won their joust with the Black Knights in only five innings by a score of 13-2. Fifth-year pitcher Chandler Dennis started on the mound for Tech and in the sixteen batters Dennis saw, she only walked two while throwing four strikeouts and keeping the Black Knights
hitless through three innings. 

Army only got one hit off of Dennis, but it proved to be irrelevant after Tech’s lineup racked up 13 runs across only four innings. Sophomore pitcher Amanda Eaglin hit Edgmon with her opening pitch. Allen immediately sent her home with a 2-RBI blast, giving Tech a 2-0 lead in as many batters. Black and Domingue hit a double and triple in back-to-back appearances to stretch the lead to three. After an uneventful second inning, Domingue gave Tech even more insurance with a three-RBI homer in the third. Army scored a run to make the deficit 6-1, but Dennis put a stop to their momentum and turned the game over to the Jackets’ lineup. They came through with their third seven-run inning of the weekend. Outfielder Gracie Hillman got her first career hit, and Allen drove her in for her second home-run on the day. It kicked off a streak of six different batters reaching home for Tech in an offensive masterclass. Junior Emma Minghini then shut the door on Army, recording her first career punchout and the win at the top of the fifth inning.

On Saturday, Tech shut down the bats of the Robert Morris Colonials in a 9-1 blowout that only went six innings. Continuing a strong stretch of Tech pitching, Jackets junior pitcher Kinsey Norton retired six of the first seven batters she faced, only giving up one solo home run across her four innings of work. She did a great job of forcing weak contact from the Colonials’ bats and kept Robert Morris from matching Tech’s four runs scored in the third innings. Vukadinovich kept moving on the basepaths after a Sileo single and Edgmon sacrifice bunt. The Colonials’ catcher, junior Logan Black, could not hold onto the ball and gave Vukadinovich the chance to score. Black then blasted a three-run bomb deep into left field to give Tech a 4-1 lead in the third. 

Tech head coach Aileen Morales decided to let Norton rest and put Dennis in to work out of a runner on first. She kept the frame clean and held the Colonials to zero runs in her two innings. A three-run fifth inning and two-run sixth inning gave the Jackets an eight-run lead and the win. 

UNCG returned for round two against the Jackets, playing them much closer in the second contest. However, the Spartans did not have enough firepower to overcome a dominant performance from fifth-year pitcher Blake Neleman. She pitched a complete game across all seven innings of the game, only giving up two runs and four hits against eight strikeouts. Neleman received excellent run support from the rest of the Tech lineup. 

After she gave up a run in both the third and fourth inning, the Tech bats responded with a Domingue sacrifice fly to retake a 2-1 lead and two-RBI home run from Allen to secure a 4-2 lead respectively. Domingue and Edgmon tacked on insurance runs in the fifth inning, but the real game-clincher came by way of Neleman. She caught the game-clinching out in her glove after inducing weak contact off the Spartans’ batter and secured the 6-2 win. 

On Sunday, the last day of the tournament, the Jackets faced off against the Ball State Cardinals in a double-header. These were the Jackets’ toughest games of the tournament as they narrowly beat the Cardinals by a score of 6-4 in both contests. Voyles took the ball in game one and ran into some trouble early after Ball State tagged her for three runs in the first two innings. Fortunately, Voyles shook off her rough start and kept the game in reach by keeping the Cardinals off the board in the third and fourth innings. 

Edgmon, Allen and Domingue hit three straight singles before Dobbins launched a 2-RBI double to give Tech some life. 

Ball State added another run to tie the game before Black sent a three-run homer deep over the fence to give the Jackets the 5-3 lead. She then hit another insurance run in the sixth inning while Norton came in and held the Cardinals to only one more run across three innings, giving the Jackets their first win. Neleman got the start in Game 2, but showed some signs of fatigue by yielding a run in the first inning. Fortunately for Tech, Neleman was able to turn over the rest of the batters. 

After two successful steal attempts from Sileo, Edgmon then bunted to get Sileo across for the score. Neleman kept the game in hand until the fourth — this allowed Allen to send Edgmon home with yet another home run and give Tech the lead. Tech broke the game open in the sixth due to a two-RBI base hit from Dobbins and a single from junior Bailey Chapin to preserve Tech’s lead, 6-1. Even though Ball State scored three in the seventh inning, it was not enough to spoil Tech’s 6-4 victory. 

The Jackets will look to extend their win streak to eight against the Mercer Bears on Feb. 28 before playing the Pittsburgh Panthers in a weekend series at home.

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Baseball finally came back to the Flats this year — and it did not disappoint.

The Jackets opened their season at MacNease Ballpark in a three-game series against the Radford Highlanders hoping to answer questions. They brought in pitching coach Matt Taylor to overhaul the ACC’s second-worst rotation by earned run average (ERA) and strikeouts while incorporating transfer additions at pivotal spots in the outfield and at shortstop. However, the early returns look promising — the Jackets hit Radford around the park in Friday’s 21-8 blowout and cruised to 7-3 and 6-3 wins on Saturday and Sunday respectively. 

Stalwart junior closer Terry Busse got the ball to start the season opener. Tech head coach Danny Hall clearly wanted to see if Busse could extend to starter innings, but Radford jumped all over him. Highlanders junior outfielder Cameron Pittman singled on Busse’s first pitch and after three walks, two singles and a big-time two-RBI (runs batted in) double, Pittman lined out to mercifully end a 6-0 run by Radford at the top of the first inning.

Fortunately, Tech’s new-look batting lineup came through. Freshman outfielder Drew Burress — and the former top high school player in Georgia — got things rolling in chaotic fashion after the ball got away from Radford junior pitcher Scott Rouse and he made it to first base.Burress then scored the Jackets’ first run of the season after senior catcher Matthew Ellis sent a 108 mph double into center field. The experience in Tech’s lineup continued to show as the senior trio of left-fielder Trey Yunger, outfielder/designated hitter Bobby Zmarzlark and second baseman Mike Bechetti all produced in their first career plate appearances as Jackets. Yunger and Bechetti singled while Zmarzlark forced a walk through good plate discipline. Overall, Tech forced four walks in the inning, allowing them to score five runs on Ellis’s double and two singles from Yunger and Bechetti. 

Senior pitcher Ben King — the Jackets’ 2023 leader in ERA — stabilized the rotation by getting three outs on only two batters after an ill-advised steal attempt from Radford graduate student infielder Zack Whitacre. Unfortunately, Radford freshman pitcher Trey Ludy kept the Jackets off the board. King forced a particularly impressive strikeout on a six-pitch battle with Highlanders junior outfielder Corbin Grantham to blank Radford in the third. From there, Bechetti homered at the bottom of the third to even the score at 6-6 before Burress hit a homer of his own to give the Jackets the lead. 

The Jackets drove in three runs off the bats of a 2-RBI homer from senior first baseman/pitcher Cam Jones, double from senior third baseman John Giesler and single from Zmarzlark. They ended the inning with a commanding 10-6 lead and never relinquished it. 

When Radford capitalized on command issues from King to make it 10-8, Tech racked up insurance runs. Burress hit his second homer of the day, a bomb to right field, to make it 11-8 while junior shortstop Payton Green collected his third hit of the game. Tech freshman pitcher Tate McKee came in to replace King in the fourth inning and held Radford to zero runs in his two innings, mitigating a scoreless inning for the Jackets’ batting order. The defense collected three quick outs off of Radford at the top of the sixth and Tech sealed the game in the sixth and seventh innings. Across two innings, Tech scored nine runs on five hits as the Radford bullpen had no answers for their bats. They ended the seventh frame with a 20-8 lead and put in pinch hitters for the rest of the game. Excitingly, freshman catcher Vahn Lackey hit an eighth-inning home run in his first career at-bat and got swarmed by his teammates in the locker room after Tech’s program record-setting 21 Opening-Day runs to Radford’s eight. Yunger, Green and Burress all had monster performances at the plate, each collecting four hits or multiple homers. 

Tech’s bats stayed hot on Saturday in a lower-scoring, but more complete game on both ends. Junior right-handed pitcher Aeden Finateri took the mound for Tech and shoved across six innings of work. He only conceded one run and four hits on a career-high eight strikeouts, giving a depleted Jackets bullpen some rest and seeing only three batters in four of his six frames. At the plate, Tech took a three-run lead in the first inning largely due to command issues from the Radford starting pitcher, sophomore Dylan Howard, and scoring singles from Green and Zmarzlark. Green tacked on an insurance solo home run to get the lead back to three following an RBI double from Radford grad student infielder Conner Butler, but Finatieri’s pitching kept the Highlanders at arm’s length. On a single from Ellis, sophomore outfielder Parker Brosius scored the fifth run of the game. 

Tech iced the game in the seventh in just two plays — a timely RBI double from Burress before Zmarzlak forced freshman pitcher Mason Self to walk him with the bases loaded. In relief of Finatieri, Jones salted away the 7-3 series-clinching win in the top of the ninth through a pristine two-strikeout appearance. 

For the series sweep, Tech gave senior pitcher Mason Patel the starting nod and Radford tagged him early for three runs, hitting a right-field single to score Butler in the first and two-RBI double in the third courtesy of redshirt junior catcher Drew Biggerstaff. 

This coincided with a dormant stretch from Tech’s offense through three innings and it looked like Radford was going to stop the sweep. Fortunately, Green quieted any worries with one swing of his bat – a four-run RBI homer to deep left field that gave Tech the 4-3 lead. Junior pitcher Camron Hill then came in and held the Highlanders off the scoreboard for the fourth and fifth innings, giving Tech time to add insurance runs through a triple and score from Giesler and Burress’s third homer of the series. 

Hill handed the game over to redshirt freshman pitcher Carson Ballard, who carved up the Highlanders’ bats across a scoreless, hitless four innings. The Jackets recorded their first sweep of the season in the 6-3 win. 

Tech answered those pre-season questions on both the plate and the mound, starting the 2024 season off in dominant fashion. 

They will travel to Allen E. Paulson Stadium in Statesboro, GA. to take on the local rival Georgia Southern Eagles before returning home to take on Cornell in a weekend series slated to be held in Atlanta. 

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Since their big win against the No. 7 UNC Tar Heels, the Jackets have not looked anywhere close to the same team. They followed the UNC win up with a tight six-point loss to NC State before heading back home to take on the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

 At 15-7, the Demon Deacons were fourth in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and boasted one of the conference’s best offenses at 80.3 points per game. They are especially proficient from three-point range, shooting the ACC’s best three-point percentage at 37.3%. Although the matchup was daunting, Tech currently ranks third in the ACC in rebounds per game while Wake Forest gives up the third-most rebounds per game in ACC. Tech needed to keep Wake Forest off the boards and convert on their second chance opportunities to get the win. 

Unfortunately, the Jackets fell behind early and never recovered. Junior guard Kowacie Reeves Jr.  landed the game’s first score, burying a three-pointer off the assist from fellow junior guard Miles Kelly. However, the Jackets could not hit a shot for nine straight minutes until freshman forward IbrahimaSacko hit a free throw with 10 minutes left in the half. 

On the other end, Wake Forest went on a 23-0 run. It was the definition of an off-night for Tech and Wake Forest capitalized. In the last five minutes of the half, Tech started getting to the line and hitting their jump shots. Freshman guard Naithan George chipped in five points — and the Jacket’s first jump shot — while senior guard Kyle Sturdivant hit a three after George found him on the perimeter. At the end of the half, the Demon Deacons were up 46-20 after completely controlling the game. They held Tech to a miserable 13.79% from the field and 15.38% from three-point range. 

From then on, the rest of the game turned into a rout. Wake Forest established a 61-27 lead with 15 minutes left in the game and coasted for the rest of the game. The final score of 80-51 reflected that the game was over long before the final buzzer but masked the fact that Wake Forest only hit five threes in the game. However, the streak of misses from Tech on the offensive end sunk them. The Demon Deacons also outmatched Tech’s rim protection, scoring 46 points in the paint to Tech’s 24. 

With Tech’s young roster, games like this happen. However, the Jackets needed to prepare for a bounce-back opportunity in the form of a road trip to KFC Yum! Center to take on the Louisville Cardinals. Coming into the game, the Cardinals surrendered the most points in the ACC at 78.2 and held a record of 7-16. This team matched up well with Tech and presented an excellent opportunity for the Jackets to return to form. 

The game began as an offense-optional affair that kept the game at 0-0 until Louisville freshman forward Kaleb Glenn. Fortunately, Kelly answered the dunk with a jumper of his own to tie the game. 

Outside of senior guard Carter Murphy sinking two threes, Kelly scored all of the Jackets’ 30 points in the half amidst a fantastic rebound effort after being held scoreless against Wake Forest. Despite Kelly’s contributions, the combination of Louisville hitting eleven free throws to Tech’s four attempts and overall cold stretches from the Tech offense made the first half tightly contested. 

Neither team pulled away, but Tech ended the half with a slim 32-30 lead thanks to holding Louisville to one three-pointer on ten attempts and a lackluster 32.14% from the field.

In the early part of the second half, the Jackets missed their first five shots, but fortunately the Cardinals had their own offensive woes. After a scoreless first half, exciting freshman forward Baye Ndongo continued to look listless on offense following a head injury sustained against UNC. Ndongo’s recent struggles have correlated with a sudden drop in the Jackets performance, proving how vital the young forward’s presence is. Fortunately, he drove  inside on the pass from Sturdivant and converted the layup to put the Jackets up, 35-32. 

The game swung back and forth before Tech senior forward Tyzhaun Claude hit a jumper, drew contact on Louisville on the next play and sank the subsequent free throw. Sturdivant then found Sacko for the layup before Kelly buried his fifth three-pointer to give Tech a 45-40 lead. Tech found success by putting pressure on the Louisville defense and forcing the Cardinals to foul. Kelly and Sturdivant hit their respective free throws to make it 51-45 before Kelly tacked on his sixth three-pointer to set up a 54-47 Tech lead with 10 minutes left. 

Unfortunately, the Jackets’ defense kept sending Louisville to the charity stripe in quick succession and could not keep the Cardinals from collecting offensive rebounds. 

They paid the price when Louisville redshirt sophomore guard Mike James hit a huge three with six minutes left to cut the lead to 60-58. The Cardinals tied it up on free throws before Glenn threw down a monstrous dunk to give Louisville the 64-62 lead. From there, the Jackets went cold as the Cardinals went on a 15-3 run to clinch the win and send Tech home. 

The loss to Louisville marks a three-game skid for the Jackets. They need to straighten up before taking on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in an ACC road matchup on Wednesday, Feb. 13 and the Syracuse Orange at home on Feb. 17. 

Notre Dame is currently below Tech in the standings, but the Jackets cannot afford to underestimate any of its opponents. Even so, it is an excellent opportunity to snap their dismal streak.

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The Jackets kicked  off the softball season with two games against Alabama, Villanova and Longwood. 

Tech took the first game with a nail-biting  3-2 victory over Villanova. Tech then lost three consecutive games against Villanova and two against No. 14-ranked Alabama. The Jackets finished their first weekend of play by getting the sweep in a double-header victory against Longwood. 

Tech started their season with a game against Villanova. The Jackets started the game well, holding the Wildcats scoreless for the first two innings. Tech would get on the board first thanks to a two-out RBI from senior shortstop Jin Sileo to drive in senior catcher Sara Beth Allen. 

The Jackets continued to hold Villanova scoreless thanks to junior pitcher Kinsey Norton, who pitched three scoreless innings. Tech would build on their lead at the bottom of the third, with Allen providing the RBI for senior outfielder Abby Hughes. Sophomore pitcher Jaidyn Studebaker would enter the game in the fourth inning and hold Villanova scoreless. Sophomore catcher Reese Hunter was the first base runner for Tech at the bottom of the fourth and one out. Junior outfielder Ella Edgmon knocked Hunter in with a single down the middle of the field to extend Tech’s lead to 3-0. 

The Wildcats and Jackets kept each other scoreless in the fifth and sixth inning. Tech needed three more out to secure a win in their first game of the season. Villanova scared the Jackets by securing two runs in the seventh, but fifth-year pitcher Chandler Dennis would close out the game strong to secure a save and a 3-2 victory for the Jackets.

The Jackets started the next day with a game against the Crimson Tide. Junior pitcher Sophia Voyle began the game for the Jackets, going through two and two-thirds innings before giving up her first run and escaping the third inning with Tech only down one. 

Alabama continued  to be aggressive against Voyle and notched two more runs to extend the lead 3-0. Fifth-year pitcher Blake Neleman would take over for Voyle and deliver three scoreless innings. Tech mustered a single run against Alabama’s freshman pitcher Jocelyn Briski thanks to a home run from senior infielder Mallorie Black. The Jackets would fall to the Crimson Tide 3-1.

Tech’s second game of the day was a rematch against Villanova. After defeating the Wildcats for the third time in a row, the Jackets were confident heading into the game. Dennis would start the game for Tech and  secure two outs before giving up a two-run home run to Villanova. Neleman would enter the game in relief of Dennis and kept further runners from scoring. The Jackets responded immediately thanks to aggressive base running from Sileo and Edgmon to tie the score at 2-2. The Jackets would give up one run in the third and two more in the sixth inning and fall to the Wildcats 5-2.

The Jackets’ only game on Saturday was a highly anticipated rematch against Alabama. Unfortunately, the match-up proceeded similarly to the first with the Crimson Tide getting a lead in the third inning and holding it throughout the game. Alabama would take the victory 5-1.

Tech would finish the first slate of games with a doubleheader against Longwood. Due to an unusual error to make the score 1-0, the Jackets fell behind early. 

The Jackets put together an offensive masterclass in the third, scoring seven runs while sending up 12 batters in the inning to make the score 7-1. Junior second baseman Grace Connelly sent one more run with a sacrifice fly to make the score 8-1. Black ended the first game of the doubleheader due to mercy rule thanks to a solo home run. 

Neleman started the second game of the header for the Jackets.Tech fell behind early in the top of the first inning with a score of 1-0. The Jackets responded immediately, thanks to a solo home run by junior outfielder Madison Dobbins. Tech added to their lead thanks to RBIs by freshman shortstop Gracyn Tucker and Allen to make the score 3-1. Dobbins added four more runs thanks to a fourth-inning grand slam, the first of her collegiate career, to make the score 7-1. 

Tech yielded a run in the fifth to make the score 7-2 but would promptly end the second game of the doubleheader due to mercy rule. Hunter scored two runs on a home run blast, and Tucker capped the game by securing the first home run of her collegiate career and ending the game early 10-2 in dominant fashion.

Tech ended the first slate of games with a respectable 3-3 record but will look to improve with a tough set of games taking place from Feb. 15 to Feb. 18. The Jackets are set to take on No. 3 ranked Stanford, No. 15 ranked LSU, Minnesota, Northwestern, No. 11 ranked Oklahoma State and No. 2 ranked Tennessee. The Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational will host the highly contested games in Clearwater, Fla, and ESPNU, ESPN+ and ACC Network will stream the matches. Softball is finally back and Jackets fans should make sure to keep up with the action at Mewborn Field.

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