Feb. 25, 2013
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/geot/sports/m-basebl/auto_pdf/2012-13/stats/season_stats.pdf | http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-basebl/13mediaguide.html | https://twitter.com/gt_baseball
Overall Record: 6-1
ACC Record: 0-0
Winning/Losing Streak: W1
Past Week: 3-1
2/19: W, 16-5 vs. Georgia State…Rookie 2B Matt Gonzalez had three hits, homered and drove in four runs
2/23: W, 3-2 vs. St. John’s… Buck Farmer (7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K) was denied a win, but rookie Dylan Dore’s walk-off single won it in the 9th
2/23: L, 7-9 vs. St. John’s… Tech rallied with four runs in the ninth, and left the winning run at first base
2/24: W, 10-1 vs. St. John’s… Cole Pitts (6 IP, 4 H, 1 R) lifted Tech to the series win as Daniel Palka and Gonzalez each had three hits
Coming Week
2/26: at Georgia Southern, 6 p.m.
2/27: at Georgia Southern, 6 p.m.
3/1: vs. Rutgers, 6 p.m. (ESPN3)
3/2: vs. Rutgers, 4 p.m.
3/3: vs. Rutgers, 1 p.m.
BUCK AT IT AGAIN: Although denied a win on Friday versus St. John’s, reigning National Pitcher of the Week Buck Farmer dazzled in another start. Farmer went seven scoreless, four-hit innings versus the Red Storm with no walks and seven strikeouts and turned a 2-0 lead over the bullpen. SJU would tie the game in the eighth, but the Jackets walked off with the 3-2 win thanks to Dylan Dore’s single.
SETTING THE TONE: In two Friday starts this season (versus Akron and St. John’s), Farmer has not been scored upon in 15 innings of work. He’s allowed just eight hits (seven singles and a double) with no walks and 21 punchouts. Opponents are hitting just .157 off the senior from Conyers, Ga.
SUNDAY FUNDAY: Tech’s Sunday starter, sophomore Cole Pitts, is already 2-0 after a solid six-inning effort in the 10-1 win over St. John’s. Pitts sports a 2.25 ERA, with 11 strikeouts, three walks and seven hits allowed in his 12 innings. Pitts is 4-0 over his last five starts dating back to last season.
YOUTH BEING SERVED: On a team full of veterans, the only two underclassmen in the starting lineup are more than holing their own. Freshman 2B Matt Gonzalez is fresh off a team-high nine-RBI week and is hitting .462 and leads the club in RBI (13) and stolen bases (4-for-4). Sophomore 1B A.J. Murray has the average at .476 and leads the team in on-base percentage (.607).
WALK THIS WAY: Five of the seven Yellow Jackets that have started every game have drawn more walks than strikeouts, led by seven walks each from Brandon Thomas and A.J. Murray. As a team, Tech sports a .424 on-base percentage an is hitting .336 with runners on base.
100 RBI MILESTONE: Both Daniel Palka and junior catcher Zane Evans achieved the 100-career-RBI milestone in the opening weekend. Palka now has 107, following another four-RBI effort this week, while Evans sits at 104 thanks to four RBI this past week. Senior Brandon Thomas currently has 90 and junior Mott Hyde has 84. Should either reach 100, it’d mark the first time at Tech since 2006 that three or more active players had 100+ career RBI during the same season.
THE DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES: After the first seven games last season, Tech had used seven different defensive combinations in the infield, committed 11 errors as a team and was fielding just .958. Through seven games in 2013, Tech’s starting infield has changed just once and the Jackets are leading the ACC in fielding percentage at .985. Five of the seven games this season have been played error-free.
