June 5, 2016
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Georgia Tech’s postseason is still alive as the Yellow Jackets scored two runs in the 9th inning to eliminate the UConn Huskies 7-5 on Sunday afternoon at McKethan Stadium.
With the win, Georgia Tech (38-24) advanced to Sunday night’s Gainesville Regional Championship Game against the host Florida Gators. Tech needs to win in order to force a winner-take-all Game 7 on Monday in Gainesville.
Junior Matthew Gorst (2-1) earned the win for the Yellow Jackets, allowing one run on three hits in 4.0 innings of relief. It was Gorst’s first blown save opportunity of the season.
Senior OF Matt Gonzalez became the third player in school history to amass 300 career hits as the nation’s active career hits leader went 3-for-4.
THE BASICS
• Georgia Tech earned a trip to the NCAA Gainesville Regional Championship Game, its first trip to a Regional Championship Game since 2013 in Nashville.
• This weekend marks the 31st NCAA Regional appearance in Georgia Tech history and 20th of the Danny Hall era.
• Georgia Tech is 7-2 all-time vs. UConn, including a 2-1 record in NCAA Regionals.
• Georgia Tech is 71-62 all-time in the NCAA postseason.
• Danny Hall is 55-44 all-time in the NCAA postseason.
• Georgia Tech is 7-7 all-time in NCAA Gainesville Regional games.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• In a reversal of roles from Friday’s game, Georgia Tech used a 5-run frame to take a 5-0 lead in the 4th inning. With two on and no out, Tristin English plated the game’s first run with an RBI sac fly to right, scoring Wade Bailey. After Trevor Craport was hit by a pitch, Kel Johnson ripped an RBI single for a 2-0 lead. Two batters later, freshman catcher Joey Bart launched a 3-run home run over the left-field wall for a 5-0 lead.
• From there, UConn slowly chipped away at Tech’s lead. The Huskies scored their first run on an RBI double to center by Bryan Daniello.
• UConn added another run in the 5th on a balk, cutting the lead to 5-2.
• The Huskies plated two more runs in the 6th with an RBI fielder’s choice by John Toppa and an RBI single by Alex Lefevre.
• UConn tied the game in the 8th on Toppa’s RBI flare double to right.
• Ryan Peurifoy scored a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt to put Tech ahead 6-5. English made it a 7-5 advantage with an RBI single through the left side.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Georgia Tech went with its 43rd different batting lineup this season.
• Georgia Tech is 21-4 this season when scoring first.
• Georgia Tech is 21-22 this season when its starting pitch goes less than 6 innings.
• Georgia Tech is 33-3 when leading after 6 innings and 32-1 when leading after 7 innings.
• Georgia Tech is 33-3 when allowing 5 or fewer runs.
• Georgia Tech is 29-9 with recording 10+ hits.
• Georgia Tech scored 5 runs in an inning for the 12th this season. Tech is 10-1 in those games.
• With a single in the 1st, Matt Gonzalez became the third player in school history to amass 300 career hits, joining Jason Varitek and Victor Menocal. Gonzalez now has 302 career hits.
• Junior SS Connor Justus made his 101st consecutive start.
• Freshman C Joey Bart hit his career-first home run – a 3-run blast – in the 4th.
• Junior reliever Matthew Gorst recorded his first blown save of the season. He was a perfect 12-for-12 in save opportunities before Sunday.
• Gorst’s streak of consecutive innings without allowing an earned run ended at 22.0 innings.
UP NEXT
Georgia Tech faces No. 1 seed Florida in the NCAA Gainesville Regional Championship Game at 6 p.m. on SEC Network. A Tech win would force a winner-take-all game Monday.
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