March 30, 2016
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THE FLATS – Georgia Tech’s potent offense struck early and often Wednesday night as the 18th-ranked Yellow Jackets defeated Georgia Southern 6-1 at Russ Chandler Stadium. It was the 11th time this season the Yellow Jackets’ pitching staff held the opposition to two or fewer runs.
Georgia Tech (19-5) swept the season series with Georgia Southern (15-9), while improving its record to 12-2 in its last 14 games against in-state rivals.
Senior RHP Cole Pitts (2-1) earned his second win of the season, allowing one run on four hits with six strikeouts in 5.0 innings. Ben Parr, Micah Carpenter and Matthew Gorst combined to pitch 4.0 innings of no-hit relief.
THE LINEUPS
Georgia Southern – Evan McDonald SS, CJ Brazil C, Ryan Cleveland 1B, Logan Baldwin CF, Drew Kelley DH, Will Hudgins 3B, Cal Baker 2B, CJ Ballard LF, Tarez Miller RF, Lawson Humphries P
Georgia Tech – Wade Bailey 2B, Connor Justus SS, Matt Gonzalez LF, Kel Johnson RF, Joey Bart C, Trevor Craport 3B, Tristin English 1B, Carter Hall C, Brandt Stallings DH, Cole Pitts P
THE BASICS
• Georgia Tech is now 12-2 in its last 14 games vs. in-state rivals.
• Georgia Tech has now won four straight home games and is 24-4 in its last 28 home games.
• Tech leads the all-time series 98-31, including a 54-16 mark in Atlanta.
• Tech is now 5-1 in midweek games this season.
• Tech has now won 32 of its last 38 nonconference games.
• Wednesday was head coach Danny Hall’s 1,150th career victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Georgia Tech opened the game with 5 runs over the first 3 innings – all RBI singles.
• With runners on the corners, Matt Gonzalez delivered an RBI infield single deep in the hole at 3rd. The hit allowed Wade Bailey to score for the 1-0 lead in the 1st.
• Tech added another run in the 2nd for a 2-0 lead. With two on and two out, Bailey sent an RBI single back up the middle to score Tristin English.
• The Jackets put the game out of reach in the 3rd. With two on, Trevor Craport hit an RBI infield single to the second baseman to score Kel Johnson. On the ensuing at bat, English singled back up the middle to score Joey Bart. Three batters later, Bailey drove in his second run with an RBI single to left field. He was thrown out on the play attempting to leg out a double.
• Georgia Southern’s lone run came in the 4th. Will Hudgins RBI sacrifice fly to center allowed Ryan Cleveland to score.
• Georgia Tech’s final run of the night came in impressive fashion. Kel Johnson delivered a lead-off solo home run over the façade of the Russ Chandler Stadium scoreboard to give the Jackets a 6-1 lead.
QUOTE BOARD
“I told Cole Pitts that’s the best he’s thrown all year. I’m very proud of him. Ben Parr was really good; he made some really nice defensive plays himself. Micah (Carpenter) threw well – we wanted to get him in the game since he didn’t pitch last week. And of course Matthew Gorst was really good, too. It’s great to see us continue to pitch really well.” – Georgia Tech head coach Danny Hall on the Jackets’ pitching performance
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Senior LF/3B Matt Gonzalez went 1-for-4, extending his hit streak to a season-best 11 games.
• Sophomore RF Kel Johnson now owns a career-best 19-game hitting streak after a crushing a mammoth solo home run in the 7th inning.
• Sophomore 2B Wade Bailey tied a career high with 3 hits, finishing 3-for-5 with 2 RBI.
• Georgia Tech turned two double plays, increasing its NCAA lead to 40 double plays.
• Tech has recorded 10+ hits for the eighth time in the last nine games.
• Tech has recorded 10+ hits in seventh straight home games.
UP NEXT
No. 18 Georgia Tech hosts ACC Coastal Division rival Duke this weekend at Russ Chandler Stadium. Friday’s game is set for 7 p.m. ET on WREK 91.1 FM.
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