Feb. 24, 2009
STATESBORO, Ga. – A.J. Wirnsberger’s one-out single plated two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, and Georgia Southern closer Dexter Bobo retired the next six Yellow Jacket batters in order to help the Eagles to a 6-5 win over Georgia Tech Tuesday evening.
The loss was Georgia Tech’s first of the season, while the Eagles improved to 4-0 in 2009. The Yellow Jackets (3-1) will have a chance to even the series Wednesday when the two teams meet at 4 p.m. at J.I. Clements Stadium.
Wirnsberger collected two hits and drove in three runs on the night, but his single off Tech reliever Thomas Nichols (0-1) proved to be the difference in the game. After allowing the first two batters reach base in the bottom of the seventh, Nichols struck out Phillip Porter for the first out of the inning. Wirnsberger then gave the Eagles their first lead of the game when he knocked a 1-2 pitch up the middle to drive in Kevin Bowles and Matt Miller.
Zach Brewster came on to pitch in relief of Nichols and forced a double play to get the Jackets out of the jam. He then retired the Eagles in order in the eighth.
The loss overshadowed a strong pitching performance by Yellow Jacket starter Andrew Robinson, who worked a career-long 6.0 innings and struck out a career-high eight batters.
The Georgia Southern pitching staff kept the Yellow Jacket batters off balance all night, beginning with starter Matt Murray, who yielded four runs on five hits while striking out four in five innings of work. Charles Matthews (1-0) followed Murray and limited Tech to one run on two hits through two innings of work to pick up the win before Dexter Bobo finished off the game with two perfect innings for his first save of the season.
A bases loaded walk, followed by an RBI groundout by Jeff Rowland, gave the Yellow Jackets a 2-0 edge in the top of the second inning, but Ty Wright evened the score with a two-run homer in the bottom of the frame.
Tech added two more runs in the third inning, with an RBI double by Tony Plagman followed by a run-scoring single from Matt Skole, but Georgia Southern tied the game with run-scoring hits in both the fourth and fifth innings.
Wednesday’s game can be heard on WREK Radio (91.1 FM in Atlanta/www.wrek.org). Live stats will be available at Ramblinwreck.com.
–GT–
