Feb. 14, 2015
TECH STARTERS:
Spingola/CF, Smith/1B, Johnson/RF, Gonzalez/3B, Murray/DH, Innis/LF, Justus/SS, Pabst/C, Bailey/2B, Parr/SP.
FORDHAM STARTERS:
Runco/2B, Kozuch/1B, Galiano/C, Stampfl/SS, McNally/LF, Donadio/RF, Edmiston/3B, Gajdos/DH, Lundy/CF, Serrapica/SP.
THE BASICS:
• Fordham (1-2) held leads of 3-0 and 4-3, but Georgia Tech (2-1) was able to split Saturday’s doubleheader by rallying to beat the Rams, 7-5, at Russ Chandler Stadium on Saturday.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• Tech starter Ben Parr settled in after a rocky first inning that saw Fordham score three times and seize an early 3-0 lead.
• Arden Pabst ripped an RBI single to center that made it 3-1 in the second, and after Kel Johnson’s RBI double in the third, Pabst laced on RBI double to left that tied the game at 3-3 in fourth.
• The Rams regained a 4-3 edge in the fifth, but a four-spot by the Yellow Jackets in the home half of the fifth proved to be the difference. Johnson’s solo homer triggered the inning, while Keenan Innis and Connor Justus chipped in RBI singles.
• Brandon Gold pitched two innings in relief of Parr and Zac Ryan fanned two over the final two innings to earn the save as Parr got the victory.
• The loss fell to Fordham reliever Cody Johnson, who was charged with four runs (two earned) over 1.1 innings in relief of starter Joseph Serrapica.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
• Innis, who doubled twice in Saturday’s first game, was on base four times in the nightcap thanks to three singles and a walk. He scored a career-high three times and matched his career-high of three hits.
• Pabst had a single, double, walk and drove in two runs. The sophomore catcher also threw out all three steal attempts by Fordham in the nightcap. He gunned down the lone steal attempt by St. John’s in Friday’s game.
• Johnson finished 3-for-5 with a double, homer and two RBI. The rookie finished his debut weekend hitting .571 (8-for-14) with three doubles, a pair of homers and five RBI
• Gold’s relief appearance was his first collegiate pitching action and he fanned three over two innings. He allowed two hits and an unearned run.
• Ryan earned his second career save.
QUOTEABLE
“Kel had another good day and I thought Keenan had a really good day. Towards the end there, I thought our bullpen did a nice job with Brandon Gold, and Zac Ryan may have thrown the ball better than anyone all weekend. It was good to bounce back and win tonight especially after getting down 3-0 in the first. But it was a disappointing first game. We didn’t do much offensively or defensively to give us a chance to win that game. The two guys Fordham started today really threw the ball well so you have to tip your cap to them.” — head coach Danny Hall
UP NEXT:
• Tech hits the road for the first time in 2015 with a game at Georgia Southern on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. on ESPN3.
