ATHENS, Ga. — Jeff Keppinger’s RBI double in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted 25th-ranked Georgia (28-15) to a 5-4 come from behind victory over 10th-ranked Georgia Tech (31-13) on Wednesday night at Foley Field. The victory gave the Bulldogs a 2-1 win in the season series over the Yellow Jackets, marking Georgia’s first series victory since 1986.
Trailing 4-1, the Bulldogs rallied for three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to knot the score at 4-4. Georgia loaded the bases with one out before Kris Edge hit a fly ball to left field that Tech’s Brad Stockton misplayed that allowed Keppinger and David Coffee to score. Mark Thornhill’s RBI groundout to second base allowed Adam Swann to score from third base with the tying run.
In the ninth, Jody Pollock drew a one out walk and came around to score easily on Keppinger’s double to the right-center field wall. Keppinger finished with two hits in five at bats.
Georgia’s Jeffery Carswell (7-0) picked up the win in relief after tossing a scoreless ninth inning. Tech reliever Jeff Watchko (0-3) took the loss after allowing two runs, only one of which was earned, in one inning of work. Starter Kevin Cameron pitched well, allowing just one run in six innings, but did not figure in the decision.
The Yellow Jackets outhit the Bulldogs in the game 9-7, but Georgia was aided by seven walks from the Tech pitching staff.
Tech took a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a RBI double >from Bryan Prince and a three-run homer from Victor Menocal, his fourth of the season. Menocal, Prince and Richard Lewis each had two hits in the game for the Yellow Jackets.
Georgia Tech will next host Florida State on Friday at 7 p.m. at Russ Chandler Stadium. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Net South and broadcast on WREK-Radio (91.1 FM in Atlanta) and on the internet at www.ramblinwreck.com.
