March 11, 2013
Overall Record: 14-2
ACC Record: 2-1
Winning/Losing Streak: L1
Past Week: 3-1
3/5: W, 16-9 vs. No. 28 Mercer… Jackets scored 12 times in final four innings and took the lead for good on Murray’s three-run triple in 6th
3/8: W, 11-1 at No. 30 Virginia Tech… Farmer took a no-hitter into the 6th inning, while Palka (grand slam) and Evans (two-run) homered for the Jackets
3/9: W, 14-9 at No. 30 Virginia Tech… The Jackets won their ninth straight and set a school record with their ninth-consecutive game in double-digit runs
3/10: L, 2-6 at No. 30 Virginia Tech… Tech saw its nine-game winning streak snapped
Coming Week (Watch Live in All-Access)
3/15: vs. Boston College (Atlanta, Ga.), 6 p.m.
3/16: vs. Boston College (Atlanta, Ga.), 4 p.m.
3/17: vs. Boston College (Atlanta, Ga.), 1 p.m.
BT TURNS IT ON: Senior CF Brandon Thomas finished off a red hot week that saw him collect multiple hits in all four games, and score and drive in runs in each game as the Yellow Jackets took down No. 28 Mercer and won an ACC series at No. 30 Virginia Tech. Thomas was a team-best 11-for-18 (.611) with six RBI, eight runs, four doubles, three walks, a stolen base and did not strike out. The senior was 4-for-6 with a double and three RBI in the 16-9 win over Mercer at home Tuesday. This weekend, as the Jackets hit the road to open ACC play, Thomas had two hits (both doubles), two walks and scored three times in the 11-1 series-opening win over the Hokies. Saturday he had three hits and scored twice in the 14-9 comeback win, and added two more hits on Sunday. Thomas is riding an eight-game hitting streak (hitting .515 in the streak) and is one of two Jackets to reach base in every game this season. He leads Tech this season in hitting (.458, 2nd ACC), runs (24, 2nd ACC), doubles (7), walks (13) and OBP (.548, 4th ACC).
REIGNING PLAYER OF THE WEEK STAYS HOT: Last week’s ACC Player of the Week, junior Zane Evans, hit .471 (8-for-17) as Tech went 3-1 this week with a pair of doubles, his career-best sixth home run of the season and five RBI. He’s hit safely in nine straight game, which matches the career-long streak from his freshman season.
BUCK WINS AGAIN, BUT STREAK SNAPPED: Senior RHP Buck Farmer continued the dominant start to his final season, going six innings with seven strikeouts, two hits and a run in Friday’s 11-1 victory at No. 30 Virginia Tech to open the ACC season. Farmer took a no-hitter into the sixth inning of that game, before surrendering a pair of hits and his first earned run of the season. His streak of 26.2 innings to start a season without allowing an earned run was the longest at Tech in at least the last 10 years. Farmer’s 0.33 ERA leads the ACC among qualifying pitchers.
GRAND PA-LKA: Junior Daniel Palka launched a grand slam home run during Friday’s 11-1 victory over the Hokies in Blacksburg. It was the fourth homer of the season and the 28th career for the Lyman, S.C. native, but his first career grand slam. Tech is now 21-7 in games when Palka homers. He and rookie Matt Gonzalez are first and second in the ACC in RBI, with 26 and 24, respectively. Palka is also tied for the ACC lead in hits (27), with teammate Brandon Thomas.
WREN TIES JACKET LEGENDS: Junior LF Kyle Wren picked up his 14th career triple in Saturday’s win at Virginia Tech, which moved him into a tie for fourth all-time at Tech with Nomar Garciaparra (1992-94). Jay Payton holds Tech’s triples record with 22 (1992-94). Wren also recorded his 43rd career stolen base this past week, to tie Payton for 16th on the Jackets’ career list.
SCHOOL RECORD STREAK: With Saturday’s 14-9 comeback win over Virginia Tech, the Yellow Jackets set a school record with their ninth consecutive game scoring double-digit runs. The previous record was an eight-game stretch in 2005.
THE GREAT GONZO: Freshman 2B Matt Gonzalez carries a team-best 11-game hitting streak into the week. It’s the longest hitting streak by a Tech rookie since Mott Hyde’s 11-game hitting streak in 2011. Gonzalez has started every game this season and is hitting .375, with 24 RBI, 24 runs and six stolen bases.
