May 26, 2005
JACKSONVILLE, FL. (AP) – Andy Hawranick and Whit Robbins hit back-to-back run-producing singles to drive in the last two runs in a five-run seventh inning to lead Georgia Tech to a 5-4 win over Florida State Thursday in the Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Tournament at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
The win sends Tech (40-16) into Saturday’s semifinals where the Yellow Jackets will await the winner of Friday’s elimination game between Florida State (49-17) and Wake Forest. Tech is joined by Virginia as the only two unbeaten teams remaining in the tournament.
Florida State broke open a 1-0 game by scoring three times in the seventh inning keyed by Ryne Malone’s two-run single, to increase its lead to 4-0.
That’s when FSU manager Mike Martin lifted starter Mark Sauls who had held Tech scoreless on three hits through six innings. FSU reliever Kevin Lynch retired the first batter, but then gave up three successive singles and a force out that brought home two runs.
He was relieved by Matt DiBlasi who walked the first batter and then allowed three consecutive, run-producing singles to Steven Blackwood, Hawranick and Robbins, giving Georgia Tech a 5-4 lead. DiBlasi was charged with the loss, dropping his record to 1-2.
Blake Wood started and went 6 1/3 innings for Tech, allowing seven hits and all four Florida State runs. Matt Wieters (3-2) held the Seminoles to two hits over the final 2 2/3 innings to earn his second win in as many nights for the Yellow Jackets.
Danny Payne and Tyler Greene both had two of Tech’s 10 hits while Shane Robinson and Ryne Jernigan both had a pair of hits to pace FSU’s nine-hit attack.
