No. 12 Georgia Dusts off Loss to No. 20 Virginia Tech, Bounces Back with Run-Rule Decision over Utah State

Saturday, February 21

Athens, Ga.

3:30 p.m.

University of Georgia

12-3

Virginia Tech

10-2

Virginia Tech

Georgia

Senior Tyler Ellison

No. 12 Georgia Dusts off Loss to No. 20 Virginia Tech, Bounces Back with Run-Rule Decision over Utah State

February 21, 2026 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

ATHENS, Ga. – The No. 12 Georgia Bulldogs dropped a contest to No. 20 Virginia Tech, 9-3, before responding with an 11-2, run-rule victory over Utah State on Day Two of the 23^rd Annual Georgia Classic. Georgia moves to 13-3 on the season.

SOFTBALL | vs. No. 20 Virginia Tech | L, 3-9
Winning Pitcher: Emma Mazzarone (3-1)
Losing Pitcher: Destin Howard (0-1)

SOFTBALL | vs. Utah State | W, 11-2 (5 inn.)
Winning Pitcher: Randi Roelling (5-1)
Losing Pitcher: Jordyn Lish (0-1)

Fast Facts (Virginia Tech):

RHP Destin Howard made her first start of the season in the loss pitching the first 2.0 innings and allowing three hits and four runs. LHP Ada Little pitched the next two innings allowing six hits and five earned runs with two strikeouts. Howard reentered to close the game, and in total, she pitched five innings with two earned runs and three strikeouts.
After falling behind in the top of the first, Georgia leveled the score off Tyler Ellison's two-RBI single to center. The Bulldogs added a third run of Gabi Novickas' solo shot in the seventh inning – her first career home run.
Kylie Aldridge and Nora Abromavage paced the Hokie offense going 2-3 and 2-4 respectively, with five combined RBIs. Jordan Lynch was also 3-3 on the day.
With the loss, Georgia slides to 8-4 all-time against Virginia Tech.

Fast Facts (Utah State):

LHP Randi Roelling pitched the full five innings in the win to move to 5-1 on the season. She had six strikeouts to just four hits and two earned runs.
Ellison continued to perform offensively with a grand slam in the bottom of the second – Georgia's third of the season – and a solo shot to left field in the bottom of the fourth inning. She went 2-3 on the day with two home runs, five RBIs and a strikeout.
Delani Sullivan, Gabi Novickas, Natalie Ray and Bailey Lindemuth all had two hits int the win.
The Aggies scored their two runs off a two-RBI double to center in the top of the fourth inning.
The Bulldogs are now 4-1 all-time against Utah State.

Key Quote:
Georgia Head Coach Tony Baldwin
On the performances today...
"We had to sort of piece it together. Virginia Tech has a good team and did what they should do when we did not take care of the ball the way that we needed to on the defensive side. We missed some opportunities there on offense to impact the game early and then it just got sideways from there. That being said, I'm really proud of the way that we responded here in game two. I thought we were much more competitive and had a more competitive mindset. Of course, that started with Randi [Roelling] in the circle really getting us off and going. Then the same thing with Kierstin Roose getting us going, kind of breaking the ice there in that first at-bat. All in all, it's just a day of early season softball where you're kind of grinding through it. We are going to have a pretty good team when it's all said and done, and sometimes you just kind of have to weather the storm a little bit."

Up Next:
No. 12 Georgia closes out action in the 23^rd Annual Georgia Classic with a rematch against No. 20 Virginia Tech tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. ET on the SEC Network+. Tickets for all Bulldog homes games are available on GeorgiaDogs.com.