THE FLATS – For the second time this season, senior third basemen Mallorie Black has been named Atlantic Coast Conference player of the week, the conference office announced Tuesday. Black dominated opposing pitchers all of last week, going 9 for 18 with five home runs, a double, 11 RBI and seven runs scored. The Cumming, Ga native now leads all of the Power 5 with 16 HRs and is third in the nation with 52 RBI.
This is the second ACC player of the week recognition for Black as she becomes the first Yellow Jacket to win the award twice in one season since Alysha Rudnik in 2013.
Black started her week last Wednesday against Troy, launching a home run to left field on the very first pitch she saw. That at bat would set the tone for the weekend as Black spearheaded the offense through three games in Auburn at the War Eagle Challenge. She connected for yet another first inning home run in the first game against Auburn, a solo shot that fueled a three-run first inning for the Jackets.
Her bat stayed hot for the doubleheader on Saturday, beginning with a career high two home run, seven RBI game against Louisiana Tech. Black launched a three-run homer in the sixth inning against Louisiana Tech before coming back in the seventh with a grand slam, her second of the season. Black joins Madison Dobbins as the first Tech teammates to both hit multiple grand slams in a season since 2011.
Black followed that performance by hitting her fifth long ball of the week in the Jackets’ 10-9 victory over Auburn in the final game of the weekend, bringing her totals for the week to five home runs and 11 RBI, the most across all of Division I. She has now hit 16 HRs for the year, the fourth most in DI and the most by a Power 5 hitter. Her 52 RBI is the most by a Yellow Jacket since 2013 and her 16 HR rank 8th most in program history with still 12 games remaining on the schedule.
UP NEXT
Black and the Jackets will play four home games this week, beginning on Wednesday at 4 pm against Alabama State. Tech will get back into ACC play this weekend with a three-game series against Louisville (23-16, 4-8 ACC) beginning Friday at 6 p.m. For ticket information, visit ramblinwreck.com
