CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (Mar. 30) – Left hander Brandon Creswell tossed a complete game and Robert Word blasted a two-run homer to lead Virginia (17-10, 5-5 ACC) to a 3-1 victory over third-ranked Georgia Tech (21-7, 4-3) on Friday afternoon at UVA Baseball Field.
Creswell (4-2) went the distance for the second time this season, holding the Yellow Jackets to seven hits and three walks while tying his career high with 11 strikeouts. He allowed just one Tech baserunner to advance past second base and the lone run that he surrendered was unearned.
Tech starter Steve Kelly (4-1) was the tough luck loser despite tossing a complete game. Kelly held the Cavaliers to just three hits and four walks while recording eight strikeouts in eight innings. All three runs he allowed were also unearned.
Georgia Tech took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning after Jason Basil reached on a fielder’s choice and came around to score on a two-out RBI single from Derik Goffena.
Virginia answered with three runs in its half of the fourth inning to make the score 3-1. Jon Benick reached on an error to start the inning and then took third base on a double from Hunter Wyant. After Dan Street struck out with the first out in the inning, a sacrifice fly from Mark Rueffert scored Benick. With two outs, Word blasted a two-run homer over the center field fence, his third long ball of the season.
Goffena and Bryan Prince each had two hits for Georgia Tech in the loss. The Yellow Jackets left nine runners on base after failing to capitalize on numerous scoring opportunities. Tech got two on with one out in the second and fifth innings before failing to score each time.
Georgia Tech and Virginia will continue the three game series on Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
