THE FLATS – RHP Aeden Finateri pitched five shutout innings behind an eight-run offensive explosion for Georgia Tech baseball as they downed Cornell, 12-2, on Saturday afternoon to clinch the series at Mac Nease Baseball Park at Russ Chandler Stadium.
The Yellow Jackets (6-0) got another lockdown outing from Finateri (2-0), who struck out a career-high 10 hitters and issued just one free pass to shut down the Big Red (0-2) and allow their offense to work and work it did.
Tech scored eight runs in the opening frame, including two home runs from true freshman Drew Burress and a solo homer from Mike Becchetti. Becchetti would homer again later in the fifth inning.
John Giesler and Bobby Zmarzlak also hit gap to gap with back-to-back doubles in the first to score two, before hitting two-straight doubles again in the sixth to plate a combined three for a total of five RBI between the two on the day.
Overall at the plate, Burress led with the two home runs for four RBI. Giesler’s two doubles drove in three, as did Becchetti’s two homers. Zmarzlak’s two double drove in two and both Cam Jones and Matthew Ellis logged extra-base hits as well.
Finishing up the game on the mound behind Finateri was RHP Tate McKee, who worked six outs in six pitches, LHP Brett Barfield, who pitched 2.0 innings of three-hit, one-run ball, and RHP Caden Gaudette, who pitched the final three outs and allowed just a solo home run.
Cornell was led by Mark Quatrani, who went 2-for-4 with a solo home run. LHP Huxley Holcombe (0-1) received the loss, surrendering eight runs on seven pitched in the first inning.
The Jackets look to complete the weekend series against Cornell on Sunday, Feb. 25. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra.
Game Notes:
- RHP Aeden Finateri struck out a career-high 10 batters (prev. 8, vs. Radford (Feb. 17, 2024));
- Finateri is the first Yellow Jacket to strike out double-digit hitters since Dawson Brown (12) vs. Tennessee Tech on Feb. 24, 2023.
- Drew Burress is the first Yellow Jacket to hit two home runs in the same inning since Jackson Finley against Long Island on Feb 28, 2023.
- Through the first six games of his college career, Burress is hitting .440 with 11 hits, five doubles, five home runs and 14 RBI. In addition to slugging 1.240, he’s drawn four walks for an OBP of .516.
- In just the first two games of the weekend, Burress has four hits, two doubles, two homers and seven RBI.
- Georgia Tech’s streak of five games without a home run allowed matched its longest since 2016 when the Jackets went six games between home runs to start the season.
Multimedia:
Postgame Press Conference (Coach Hall, Aeden Finateri)
Around Social Media
𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝!#WreckHavoc x #StingEm pic.twitter.com/mElYcPgIQ2
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 24, 2024
#GoJackets https://t.co/7pteJi5av4
— Ángel Cabrera (@CabreraAngel) February 24, 2024
6 + 4 + 3 = 2 💪@CarsonKerce ➡️ @demitridiamant5 ➡️ @Carsteniii pic.twitter.com/WJEnbavrge
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 24, 2024
B6 | @john_giesler and Bobby Z once again combine for back-to-back doubles to tack on another run
GT 12 | COR 0 pic.twitter.com/yrQfK8xKGt
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 24, 2024
Final line for @aeden_finateri:
5️⃣IP 3️⃣H 0️⃣R 1️⃣BB 🔟K pic.twitter.com/sd9Oy5vuO3
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 24, 2024
BECCHETTI BOMB!!@BecchettiMike hits his second 🚀 of the day! pic.twitter.com/1Pc1C9EUPh
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 24, 2024
GOT EM!! @matthew_ellis35 with the back pick to @john_giesler!#WreckHavoc pic.twitter.com/BKTydrZKeq
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 24, 2024
🔟 strikeouts for @aeden_finateri!! pic.twitter.com/UaghsqJ7Ut
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 24, 2024
Make it 7️⃣ punchies for @aeden_finateri today 🔥 pic.twitter.com/wTBD1PlSmy
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 24, 2024
He is DEALIN'!
Five-straight K's for @aeden_finateri! pic.twitter.com/N5fCNAdLRm
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 24, 2024
TWO 💣 IN ONE INNING!!@drew_burress08 🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/eIrqb0SvlF
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 24, 2024
CHEDDER 💣
Jackets scoring in bunches early as @BecchettiMike hits a two-run homer pic.twitter.com/S3TRXYWgUC
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 24, 2024
Back-to-back RBI doubles by @john_giesler and Bobby Z puts Tech up 3-0 in the first pic.twitter.com/eCfU4MswaB
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 24, 2024
LEADOFF 💣@drew_burress08 is INHUMAN!! pic.twitter.com/XcGokIP4zS
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 24, 2024
Two K's and a first-inning zero for @aeden_finateri 😤 pic.twitter.com/fQQdBrAb2q
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 24, 2024
White 𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙨 today 😤#WreckHavoc x #StingEm pic.twitter.com/8F1nVGspYp
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 24, 2024
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