March 6, 2016
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THE FLATS – Behind the arm of freshman Jonathan Hughes, the 13th-ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets completed their third weekend sweep Sunday with a 4-3 win over Western Carolina at Russ Chandler Stadium.
Hughes (3-0) has won each of his first three collegiate starts. Junior reliever Matthew Gorst picked up his third save of the season to help the Jackets start the season with an 11-0 mark.
Georgia Tech’s current 11-game win streak is its longest since winning 16 straight from March 4-27, 2011.
THE LINEUPS
Western Carolina – Garrett Brown CF, Brett Pope SS, Danny Bermudez C, Matt Smith 1B, Kramer Ferrell LF, Bryson Bowman RF, Caleb Robinson DH, Nobu Suzuki 2B, J.D. Long 3B, Tristan Baker P
Georgia Tech – Wade Bailey 2B, Connor Justus SS, Matt Gonzalez LF, Kel Johnson RF, Brandon Gold 1B, Trevor Craport 3B, Brandt Stallings DH, Arden Pabst C, Carter Hall CF, Jonathan Hughes P
THE BASICS
• Georgia Tech is 11-0 for the first time since 2006 (started 16-0).
• Georgia Tech’s current 11-game win streak is its longest since winning 16 straight from March 4-27, 2011.
• Georgia Tech is one of three undefeated college baseball teams remaining – Gardner-Webb (13-0) and Fresno State (11-0) are the other two.
• The Yellow Jackets extended their home win streak to 11 games, their longest home win streak since 2011 (11 games).
• Tech has now won 21 straight nonconference home games.
• Danny Hall posted his 1,142nd career victory and 934th at Georgia Tech.
• Tech is now 297-100 all-time in the month of March under Hall.
• Georgia Tech is 861-251-1 all-time at Russ Chandler Stadium (since 1985).
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Western Carolina and Georgia Tech traded runs in the first. WCU’s Danny Bermudez plated the Catamounts’ first run with an RBI groundout to second for a 1-0 lead.
• Tech responded in the bottom half of the first on Trevor Craport’s RBI infield single, scoring the equalizer in Connor Justus.
• The Jackets took the lead for good in the third. With two outs, Carter Hall drilled a single through the left side and scored the go-ahead run on Wade Bailey’s RBI double down the left field line. Justus then plated Bailey with a double to left field for a 3-1 lead.
• Matt Gonzalez made it a 4-1 Tech lead after an RBI single through the left side to score Justus.
• Western Carolina chipped away at Tech’s lead with solo runs in the fourth and ninth innings.
• Kramer Ferrell’s RBI groundout in the fourth made it a 4-2 deficit for the Catamounts.
• Tech’s bullpen held strong in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings. Ben Parr allowed one hit in the seventh and Micah Carpenter retired the side in the eighth.
• Matthew Gorst allowed one Catamounts run in the ninth, but he forced a groundout for the final out of the afternoon.
QUOTE BOARD
“Jonathan’s a great competitor. Again today, he pitched out of some trouble the longer he went. He’s got good stuff. He pitched real well for the third time in a row.” – Georgia Tech head coach Danny Hall of freshman Jonathan Hughes
“I had definitely some butterflies to start. It was my first time out there. I was just glad to be out there with the guys and contribute any way I can.” – Freshman OF Carter Hall on his first collegiate start
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Freshman Carter Hall made his career-first start in the lineup, starting in centerfield. Hall finished the day 2-for-4 with a run scored.
• Wade Bailey extended his hit streak to 11 games, tying his career best set in 2015. Bailey finished the afternoon 1-for-5 with an RBI and run scored.
• Kel Johnson continued his hot weekend, going 2-for-4.
• Trevor Craport and Arden Pabst each added two hits for the Jackets.
• Starter Jonathan Hughes began his career without allowing an earned run in the first 15.1 innings. His first earned run allowed came in the fourth inning. He has allowed just one earned run in 18.0 career innings.
• Gorst recorded his third save of the season; he entered 2016 with one career save.
UP NEXT
No. 13 Georgia Tech travels to Auburn, Ala., for a Tuesday night showdown with the Auburn Tigers. First pitch is slated for 5:30 p.m. ET on WREK 91.1 FM and SEC Network.
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.
