March 8, 2016
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AUBURN, Ala. – Georgia Tech entered the day as one of two undefeated teams remaining in college baseball. When the day ended, the ninth-ranked Yellow Jackets were the last ones standing.
Thanks to freshman Joey Bart’s 3-RBI performance, the Jackets were able to silence the Auburn Tigers with a 4-1 win Tuesday at Plainsman Park. It is Tech’s first win at Auburn (6-7) since 2005.
Senior RHP Cole Pitts (1-0) posted his best performance of the season, allowing one run on three hits with four strikeouts in 5.0 innings. It was Pitts’ first win since March 1, 2014.
Georgia Tech (12-0) has now won 12 straight games, its longest win streak since posting 16 straight from March 4-27, 2011.
THE LINEUPS
Georgia Tech – Wade Bailey 2B, Connor Justus SS, Matt Gonzalez LF, Kel Johnson RF, Brandon Gold 1B, Tristin English DH, Trevor Craport 3B, Joey Bart C, Carter Hall CF, Cole Pitts P
Auburn – Anfernee Grier CF, Joshua Palacios LF, Jordan Ebert 2B, Niko Buentello 1B, Daniel Robert RF, Cody Nulph 3B, Melvin Gray DH, Jonathan Foster C, Keaton Weisz SS, Andrew Mitchell P
THE BASICS
• Georgia Tech is 12-0 for the first time since 2006 (started 16-0).
• Georgia Tech extends its winning streak to 12 games, its longest since winning 16 from March 4-27, 2011.
• Tuesday was the Jackets’ sixth straight nonconference road win and its first win at Auburn since 2005.
• Tuesday was the 231st series meeting, dating back to 1897. It was the Jackets’ 107th win in the series.
• Danny Hall posted his 1,143rd career victory and 935th as Georgia Tech skipper.
• Tech is now 298-100 all-time in the month of March under Danny Hall.
• Tech is now 18-4 in its last 22 midweek games, dating back to the final seven midweek contests of the 2014 season.
• Georgia Tech leads the nation with 24 double plays turned. Middle infielders Wade Bailey (2B) and Connor Justus (SS) have been a part of 13 of the 24 double plays.
• Georgia Tech has now used 12 different lineups to start the 2016 season. Only 2B Wade Bailey and SS Connor Justus have started every game at the same position.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Niko Buentello drilled an RBI single up the middle to score Anfernee Greer, giving Auburn a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st.
• In the 5th, Trevor Craport led off with a double down the left field line and later advanced to third on a wild pitch. Joey Bart brought Craport home with an RBI sacrifice fly to center, tying the game at 1-1.
• The Jackets took their first lead of the night in the 6th. Brandon Gold drew a lead-off walk and advanced to second on an error. Craport moved Gold and Tristin English into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Bart cleared the bases with a 2-RBI double to the gap in left-center for a 3-1 lead.
• Georgia Tech extended its lead to 4-1 in the 7th when Wade Bailey scored on Matt Gonzalez’s RBI single through the left side.
QUOTE BOARD
“I thought we played great. I’m really proud of Cole Pitts. He gave up a run in the first, but then four zeroes. I thought our bullpen was outstanding. We turned a bunch of double plays again and we had some key hits to manage some runs. It’s a great road win and a great way to start the week.” – Georgia Tech head coach Danny Hall on Tuesday night’s win
“It felt good. I didn’t get into a rhythm until the third inning, but once I did, I felt like I was cruising from there. It’s a good feeling.” – Senior RHP Cole Pitts on his first win since March 1, 2014
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Georgia Tech faced a starting left-handed pitcher for the fifth straight season.
• Freshman Carter Hall made his second career start in centerfield. Hall finished the day 2-for-3 with his career-first stolen base.
• Sophomore 2B Wade Bailey extended his career-best hit streak to 12 games, going 2-for-5.
• Freshman C Joey Bart went 2-for-3 with a career-high 3 RBI.
• Sophomore 3B Trevor Craport was outstanding at the hot corner with six fielding assists. At the plate, Craport went 2-for-3 for his fifth career multi-hit game.
• Cole Pitts posted his first win since March 1, 2014, vs. Bowling Green. Pitts went 0-6 in 2015.
• Auburn’s four hits are the fewest by a Georgia Tech opponent this season and the fewest since Pitt had three hits on May 8, 2015.
UP NEXT
No. 9 Georgia Tech opens ACC play with a three-game series at No. 11 Florida State in Tallahassee. All three games will be available on ESPN3 and WREK 91.1 FM (Friday & Saturday – 6 p.m., Sunday – 1 p.m.).
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.
