March 17, 2007
ATLANTA – John Goodman gave up just one run in a career-high six innings to lead Georgia Tech (11-9, 3-2 ACC) to a 5-2 victory over Boston College (5-8-1, 3-2 ACC) Saturday afternoon at Russ Chandler Stadium.
The Jackets improved to 2-0 in the series against the Eagles on a day when the entire Georgia Tech baseball team shaved their heads for charity. Tech fans raised more than $8,500 for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, resulting in the entire team and selected coaching staff members shaving their heads after the game.
Georgia Tech struck for five runs in the bottom of the first inning to take an early lead and held on for their third ACC win of the season behind strong pitching performances by John Goodman, Jared Hyatt and Danny Payne.
Chris House led Tech with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate while also driving in a pair of runs in the game.
Tech had just two hits in the first inning, but was aided by three walks, a balk and an error by the Eagles to take a 5-0 lead. Danny Payne and Michael Fisher both walked to lead off the frame and safely executed a double steal before Wally Crancer plated Payne with a two-out RBI single and Fisher scored on a balk for the second run of the inning. After Brad Feltes reached on a fielding error by third baseman Eric Campbell, Jay Dantzler earned the Jackets’ third walk of the inning to load the bases. Dantzler and Feltes advanced to second and third when Crancer scored on a passed ball before Chris House delivered a single to left field to plate Dantzler and Feltes.
The Eagles scored their first run of the series in the second inning when Peter Frates singled, moved to second on a hit by Jett Ruiz, advanced to third on a single by John Spatola and scored on a groundout by Joseph Ayers.
Tech starter John Goodman held the BC offense at bay over the next four innings, facing just three batters over the minimum and allowing just one of the three to advance past first base. Goodman (1-0) gave up just six hits in a career-high six innings of work and tied a career-high with four strikeouts in his second start of the season.
Hyatt tossed 2.1 innings in relief, giving up one run on three hits, before yielding to Payne in the ninth inning. The Yellow Jacket centerfielder struck out one and finished the game to earn his first save of the season.
The Yellow Jackets and Eagles wrap up the three-game series Sunday afternoon in a game that will be broadcast on WREK-Radio (91.1 FM/www.wrek.org). First pitch is at 1 p.m., and live stats can be found at www.ramblinwreck.com.
–GT–
