Feb. 23, 2007
ATLANTA – Wally Crancer had three hits and was one of four Yellow Jackets with a home run as Georgia Tech (4-4) defeated Duquesne (0-1), 11-2, in the opening game of a three-game series Friday night at Russ Chandler Stadium.
Crancer went 3-for-4 with three RBI and Michael Fisher added three hits, including a home run in his second-straight game, to lead the Yellow Jacket offense.
David Duncan (2-1) earned a win in his second-straight game, allowing just two runs on seven hits while striking out four and walking only one in five innings of work. Eddie Burns pitched three perfect innings in relief of Duncan, while rookie Will Hirsch made his first collegiate appearance, tossing a 1-2-3 ninth.
Luke Murton homered and drove in three runs for the Jackets on the afternoon, and Matt Wieters went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI.
Following Tony Plagman’s one-out single in the first inning, Wieters and Crancer hit back-to-back home runs, the third home runs of the season for both players, to give the Yellow Jackets a 3-0 lead.
After Bill Torre’s RBI double in the top of the third pulled the Dukes to within 3-1, the Jackets scored four runs in the bottom of the frame take a six-run lead. Wieters started the offensive onslaught with a one-out double and scored on a single by Crancer before Murton and Fisher smacked back-to-back home runs to push the score to 7-1. Murton’s home run was his first of 2007, while the home run by Fisher was his second of the season.
An RBI triple by Brian Bernardo in the fourth inning made the score 7-2, but Crancer hit an RBI double in the bottom of the frame to extend Tech’s lead back to six runs.
The Jackets added a run in the fifth inning when Chris House walked to lead off the frame, moved to second on a groundout, and came around to score on a single by Payne and a throwing error by pitcher Joe Kaye.
Duquesne starter Jeff Naughton (0-1) took the loss, allowing nine runs on 10 hits while walking three in 4.2 innings. Kaye pitched 3.1 innings in relief, holding the Jackets to two runs on one hit while striking out three.
The Jackets and Dukes will continue the three-game series Saturday at 1 p.m., with live online video available on ACC Select (gatech.playonsports.tv). A radio broadcast of the game can be found on WREK-FM, 91.1 in Atlanta, and online at www.wrek.org, while live stats are available at www.ramblinwreck.com.
