March 12, 2016
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Four costly Georgia Tech errors led to 14 unanswered Florida State runs Saturday as the ninth-ranked Yellow Jackets suffered a 14-9 loss to the 14th-ranked Seminoles at Dick Howser Stadium.
Georgia Tech (12-2, 0-2 ACC) took an early 5-0 lead through 4.5 innings, but two fielding errors in the fifth led to six Seminoles runs and Florida State (12-3, 2-0 ACC) took the lead for good.
Preseason All-American and junior RHP Zac Ryan made his season debut Saturday for the Yellow Jackets. Ryan allowed one hit and one walk in 4.0 scoreless innings.
THE LINEUPS
Georgia Tech – Wade Bailey 2B, Connor Justus SS, Matt Gonzalez LF, Kel Johnson RF, Brandon Gold 1B, Joey Bart C, Tristin English DH, Keenan Innis LF, Ryan Peurifoy CF, Zac Ryan P
Florida State – Taylor Walls SS, John Sansone 3B, Cal Raleigh C, Quincy Nieporte DH, Gage West LF, Dylan Busby 1B, Ben DeLuzio CF, Darren Miller RF, Matt Henderson 2B, Drew Carlton P
THE BASICS
• The Yellow Jackets have now lost eight straight ACC road games (last ACC road win was April 5, 2015, at Virginia Tech).
• Tech is now 298-102 all-time in the month of March under Danny Hall.
• Florida State leads the all-time series 72-45, including a 38-16 mark in Tallahassee.
• Danny Hall is 35-39 all-time vs. Florida State.
• Preseason All-American and junior RHP Zac Ryan made his season debut Saturday. It was Ryan’s first appearance since May 16, 2015, at Miami. His last three appearances have been on the road in ACC play.
• It was Ryan’s fifth career start and first start since April 9, 2014, vs. Savannah State.
• Georgia Tech leads the nation with 29 double plays turned. Middle infielders Wade Bailey (2B) and Connor Justus (SS) have been a part of 15 of the 29 double plays.
• Georgia Tech has now used 14 different batting lineups to start the 2016 season. Saturday was the first time this season that Tech used the same defensive lineup from a previous game. Only 2B Wade Bailey and SS Connor Justus have started every game at the same position.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Georgia Tech’s potent offense opened the game with three runs in the 1st. Wade Bailey led off with a double to deep centerfield, extending his hit streak to 14 games. Two batters later, Bailey scored on Matt Gonzalez’s RBI single to right-center. Kel Johnson followed with an RBI double down the left field line to plate Gonzalez for a 2-0 lead. Johnson later scored on a fielding error by FSU’s Matt Henderson for the 3-0 advantage.
• Tech tacked on two more runs in the 4th to take a 5-0 lead. Ryan Peurifoy led off with a double to left field and advanced to third on Bailey’s fly out to left. Connor Justus plated Peurifoy with an RBI double to left-center. After an infield bunt single by Matt Gonzalez, Justus scored the Jackets’ fifth run on a fielder’s choice.
• Florida State finally cracked the scoreboard in the 5th, ultimately taking the lead for good. LHP Ben Parr came on to replace starter Zach Ryan. Parr surrendered a 2-run home run to Dylan Busby, cutting the lead to 5-2. A crucial throwing error on Ben DeLuzio’s bunt single set the table for the Seminoles. Burton Dulaney replaced Parr after the error and would load the bases after being called for a balk. A bases loaded throwing error by Gonzalez allowed two runners to score, including the tying run. The go-ahead run scored on a wild pitch.
• The Seminoles added three runs in the 7th and five more in the 8th for a 14-5 lead.
• The Jackets did not go quietly in the 9th. With one out, Joey Bart drilled a double to centerfield. After a Brandt Stallings walk, Coleman Poje sent an RBI single up the middle to score Bart. Two batters later, Bailey scored Stallings with an RBI single up the middle. Justus later scored Poje and Bailey for the final 14-9 tally.
QUOTE BOARD
“I thought Zac Ryan was outstanding for four innings. Then Ben (Parr) came in. Ben didn’t quite do his job today. The errors for us were really at critical times and led to big innings. The game got away from us. We have to re-group and be ready to play tomorrow.” – Georgia Tech head coach Danny Hall on Saturday’s loss
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Wade Bailey extended his career-best hit streak to 14 games. Bailey tied a career high with three hits.
• Senior Matt Gonzalez tied a career high with four hits, going 4-for-6. It was his third career four-hit game and first since 2014 vs. Maryland.
• Junior Connor Justus went 3-for-5 with a season-high-tying 3 RBI.
• Georgia Tech’s four errors were the most since committing four on April 21, 2015, vs. Kennesaw State. It was the most by the Jackets in an ACC game since committing five on March 14, 2014, vs. Miami.
UP NEXT
No. 9 Georgia Tech faces No. 14 Florida State in the series finale at 1 p.m. Sunday. Fans can watch the game on ESPN3 or listen on WREK 91.1 FM.
For the latest information on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, follow us on Twitter (@GTBaseball), Facebook (facebook.com/GTbaseball) or visit us at www.ramblinwreck.com.
