May 17, 2001
FORT MILL, S.C. – Matt Murton delivered an infield single and Jason Basil scored from second base after Scott Toole’s fielding error to lift fourth-seeded Georgia Tech (41-16) to a 6-5, 10-inning victory over top seeded Florida State (41-16) in the second round of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament on Thursday evening at Knights Stadium. The Yellow Jackets advance in the winners’ bracket where they will face the winner of the Wake Forest/Virginia game on Friday at 7:30 p.m., while the Seminoles will face Clemson at 12 p.m. in an elimination game.
The victory was Georgia Tech’s seventh straight win in ACC Tournament play, and the Yellow Jackets improved to 7-0 all-time at Knights Stadium.
Trailing 5-4 entering the bottom of the ninth inning, Georgia Tech rallied to knot the score at 5-5 and send the game into extra innings. Matt Murton led off the inning with a single and stole second base with one out. A single from pinch-hitter Brad Stockton put runners on first and third base before Matthew Boggs looped a RBI single into left field to plate Murton. Tech had a chance to win the game when the Yellow Jackets loaded the bases with two outs, but Bryan Prince flew out to deep center field to end the threat.
After setting down the Seminoles in order in the top of the 10th, the Yellow Jackets mounted another rally in the bottom of that inning. Jason Basil led off with a single to left field and took second base on after Victor Menocal reached first safely on an infield bunt. Murton then hit a ball deep into the hole at short, which Toole momentarily knocked down before allowing the ball to trickle into left field and Basil to come home from third base with the game-winning run.
“It was a great college baseball game,” said Tech head coach Danny Hall. “It’s a great game if you win, and it’s a tough game if you lose. The lead changed hands several times and in the end, Basil’s hit was certainly big. I thought Menocal’s bunt was the play of the game.”
Florida State took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Karl Jernigan was hit by a pitch and stole second base before coming around to score on Bryan Zech’s two-out RBI single.
Tech tied the score at 1-1 with an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth. Bryan Prince reached on an error and eventually scored on Derik Goffena’s sacrifice fly.
The Seminoles scored in the fifth to retake the lead at 2-1. Tony Richie, Zech and Scott Toole all singled to load the bases with one out before John-Ford Griffin delivered an RBI single. FSU could have done more damage in the inning, but Tech’s Rhett Parrott worked out of a bases-loaded, one out situation by striking out Ryan Barthelemy and Michael Futrell to end the inning.
The Yellow Jackets immediately tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth. Boggs led off the inning with a double to left field and Tech eventually loaded the bases with two outs before Boggs came home on a wild pitch with the tying run.
Tech had opportunities to take the lead in the seventh, loading the bases with two outs, and the eighth, putting two runners on with two outs, but each time Lynch worked out of the jams without allowing a run to score. The Yellow Jackets left a school-record 19 runners on base in the game.
Florida State took advantage of a run-scoring opportunity in the top of the eighth to take a 3-2 lead. Jernigan drew a two-out walk, stole second base and scored when Richie laced a 2-2 pitch into center field for a RBI single.
The Yellow Jackets responded with two runs in the bottom of the eighth to take a 4-3 lead. Mark Teixeira delievered a two-out RBI double to right field to drive in Wes Rynders, who led off the inning with a walk. After Prince was intentionally walked, Jason Basil stroked an RBI single to center to drive in Teixeira.
The Seminoles rallied with two runs in the top of the ninth inning, Scott Toole reached on a one-out single, and a single from Griffin put runners on first and third. Barthelemy doubled to right field to drive in Toole with the tying run before Nick Rogers put the Seminoles ahead with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Jeff Watchko (1-3) picked up the victory in relief, while Daniel Hodges (3-3) was saddled with the loss.
Both starters pitched well, although neither figured in the decision. Tech’s Rhett Parrott allowed three runs on 11 hits in 7.2 innings while fanning five batters, and FSU’s Matt Lynch held the Yellow Jackets to one earned run on eight hits over seven innings.
Murton led the Tech offense with a 4-for-5 afternoon, while Boggs added three hits and is now 7-for-11 in the ACC Tournament. Basil, Rynders and Menocal each had two hits in the game. Griffin, Richie and Zech each had three hits for the Seminoles.
All of Tech’s games in the ACC Tournament will be broadcast on WREK-Radio (91.1 FM in Atlanta) and on the internet at www.ramblinwreck.com. Live scoring during the tournament will be available at www.theacc.com.
