March 1, 2014
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech used a pair of four-run innings to rally from an early 2-0 deficit and beat Bowling Green, 8-3, Saturday afternoon at Russ Chandler Stadium to secure the weekend series.
Seniors Mott Hyde and Mitch Earnest each had two hits, junior Daniel Spingola homered, while rookie Elliott Barzilli came through with a two-run single during a four-run third inning that gave the Yellow Jackets (6-4) the lead for good.
Junior Cole Pitts shook off the Falcons’ two-run first inning and held the visitors scoreless over his final four innings on the mound to earn the win (1-0). Jeremy Shay, who finished 2-for-4, launched a two-run homer to left to put BGSU (2-6) on the board.
“Pitts just made a bad pitch (to Shay),” said head coach Danny Hall. “But after that I thought he settled in pretty nicely and we played good defense behind him. They got a couple bloop hits off Devin (Stanton) to get another run and I thought Cruz was really good.”
Bowling Green would pull within one in the eighth when Greg Basalyga’s RBI single to center scored Logan Walker, who singled and moved to second on a wild pitch.
Another two-out single allowed the Falcons to move the tying run to scoring position, before senior Alex Cruz emerged to get the final out of the eighth, and pitch a 1-2-3 ninth inning with two strikeouts to nail down his first save.
The Jackets’ gave Cruz breathing room in the bottom of the eighth after back-to-back doubles from Thomas Smith and Hyde made it 5-3. Earnest delivered an RBI triple – the senior’s first career three-bagger – and Spingola followed next with a two-run shot to right that capped the scoring.
Mike Frank was saddled with the loss (0-1), after allowing four hits and four unearned runs in four innings of work.
Sophomore Matt Gonzalez, who singled in his first at bat to extend his hitting streak to eight games, drove in the Jackets’ first run in third with a sacrifice fly deep to the wall in right. Hyde’s RBI single made it 4-2 Tech in the third.
The Jackets will look for their second consecutive weekend sweep when Josh Heddinger toes the rubber Sunday at Russ Chandler Stadium at 1 p.m.
Every Sunday is Kids’ Day at Russ Chandler Stadium, and all youth in attendance can run on the field with the Yellow Jackets for the National Anthem and then run the bases postgame. Also following every Sunday home game, selected players will sign autographs.
For tickets and information, visit RamblinWreck.com or call 1-888-TECH-TIX.
