March 19, 2016
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THE FLATS – The 22nd-ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets scored eight unanswered runs and rallied behind a pair of freshmen pitchers Saturday night for an 8-3 win over Virginia Tech.
Keyton Gibson (2-0) entered the game in the 2nd inning to relieve starter Zac Ryan. Gibson allowed one hit with two strikeouts in 3.2 innings. From there, Burton Dulaney was masterful, striking out nine of the 13 batters he faced to earn his career-first save.
Georgia Tech (14-4, 2-3 ACC) has now won 19 of its last 22 home games. The Jackets handed Virginia Tech (10-10, 1-4 ACC) its fifth straight loss.
THE LINEUPS
Virginia Tech – Saige Jenco CF, Grant Maiorana DH, Phil Sciretta 1B, Nick Anderson LF, Mac Caples RF, Ryan Tufts SS, Joe Freidy Jr. C, Matt Dauby 2B, Sam Fragale 3B, Kit Scheetz P
Georgia Tech – Wade Bailey 2B, Connor Justus SS, Matt Gonzalez LF, Kel Johnson RF, Joey Bart C, Trevor Craport 3B, Tristin English 1B, Ryan Peurifoy CF, Arden Pabst DH, Zac Ryan P
THE BASICS
• Georgia Tech, which is 12-1 at home this season, has now won 19 of its last 22 home games.
• Senior 3B/LF Matt Gonzalez now has 235 career hits, which ranks 3rd among the NCAA’s active career leaders.
• With Arden Pabst starting at designated hitter, Georgia Tech has now used 18 different lineups to open the 2016 season. Only 2B Wade Bailey and SS Connor Justus have started every game at the same position.
• Georgia Tech is now 8-1 vs. starting LHP this season.
• The Jackets are 12-0 when leading after the 6th, 7th and 8th innings.
• Tech is also 13-0 when allowing five or fewer runs.
• Georgia Tech is now 28-15 all-time vs. Virginia Tech.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Virginia Tech took a 3-0 lead in the 2nd after Mac Caples’ 2-run home run and Saige Jenco’s RBI single to right field. That would be the Hokies’ only scoring Saturday night.
• Georgia Tech responded with a 4-run 2nd to take a 4-3 lead. Trevor Craport drove in Joey Bart with an RBI single to right field. Arden Pabst followed with an RBI single to center. Ryan Peurifoy later scored the tying run after Wade Bailey reached on an error. Pabst scored the go-ahead run on Connor Justus’ RBI ground-rule double to right field.
• Tech added two insurance runs in the 3rd to take a 6-3 lead. English plated Kel Johnson with an RBI sacrifice fly to deep center. Bart then scored on a passed ball.
• The Jackets added a run in both the 5th and 8th innings. English drove in his second run of the game with an RBI groundout in the 5th. English also scored in the 8th on Bailey’s RBI fielder’s choice.
QUOTE BOARD
“I thought that was key for us. We limited the damage. We gave them three runs and we came in and got four right after that. (Keyton) Gibson continued to hold them at bay. And then Burton Dulaney was outstanding for us the rest of the way.” – Georgia Tech head coach Danny Hall on Keyton Gibson getting two outs with the bases loaded in the 2nd
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Sophomore RF Kel Johnson went 1-for-4 to extend his career-best hit streak to 13 games.
• Freshman C Joey Bart tied a career high with 3 hits, going 3-for-4 to extend his hit streak to 9 games.
• Freshman RHP Keyton Gibson earned his second win of the season, allowing one hit with three walks and two strikeouts in 3.2 innings.
• Freshman RHP Burton Dulaney earned his career-first save after striking out a career-high 9 batters in 4.0 no-hit innings.
• It is Bart’s fifth multi-hit game of the season. Fifteen of his 17 hits this season have come during his current hit streak.
• It is Tristin English’s second straight multi-RBI game and third of the season.
• Senior LF Matt Gonzalez made his 139th consecutive start.
• Junior SS Connor Justus made his 57th consecutive start.
• Sophomore 2B Wade Bailey made his 40th consecutive start.
• Georgia Tech turned two double plays, increasing its NCAA-leading total to 34.
UP NEXT
The series finale with Virginia Tech will begin at 1 p.m. ET Sunday at Russ Chandler Stadium. The game will be streamed live on RamblinWreck.com and WREK 91.1 FM.
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.
