Feb. 28, 2014
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech turned a season-high four double plays to aid Jonathan King’s strong start and the Yellow Jackets came from behind to beat Bowling Green, 3-2, Friday in the opener of a three-game series at Russ Chandler Stadium.
Mott Hyde finished 3-for-4 and Matt Gonzalez’s two-run single in the third inning that extended his hitting streak to seven games would prove to be the difference. The win improved the Jackets to 5-3, while the Falcons slipped to 2-5.
King worked a career-long 7.1 innings in holding the visitors to two runs (one earned) with two walks and four strikeouts. The sophomore lefty (2-0) yielded seven hits, but rolled up double plays in the first, fourth, fifth and sixth innings – three of which ended innings.
“Those are pitchers’ best friends,” said head coach Danny Hall of Tech’s four double plays. “They got some guys on, but it seemed every time they got guys on, he got a ground ball. I thought Mott (Hyde) did an excellent job of turning a lot of double plays.”
Four double plays are the most turned by the Jackets since four in a 14-9 win at Clemson last season. The school record is five versus Coastal Carolina in 1995.
The Falcons drew first blood, capitalizing on a walk, an error and a base hit to take a 2-0 lead thanks to Patrick Lancaster’s two-run single through the right side.
Tech wouldn’t trail long.
The hosts put the first three batters on in the third inning after A.J. Murray led off with a double, Arden Pabst was hit by a pitch and Keenan Innis legged out a bunt single.
Ryan Peurifoy drew a four-pitch, bases-loaded walk to make it 2-1, and Gonzalez followed by ripping a Cody Apthorpe offering up the middle to give Tech the lead for good.
King turned the game over to the bullpen after Brian Bien’s one-out single in the eighth, and Jonathan Roberts and Dusty Isaacs would record the final five outs in order.
Roberts got a strikeout and a ground out to end the eighth and Isaacs earned his first career save with three straight grounders in the ninth.
He (Roberts) threw really well and he’s going to have a big role for us going forward,” said Hall. “And Dusty came in and threw a lot of strikes, so those two guys were good tonight.”
King’s previous career-long was 6.1 innings versus Virginia Tech in last season’s ACC Tournament. He has gone no less than five innings in five of his six starts dating back to last season.
Apthorpe took the loss (1-2), allowing seven hits and three runs in his six innings on the mound. Bien had three of the Falcons’ seven hits.
Tech and BGSU continue the series Saturday at 2 p.m. in Atlanta.
