March 25, 2006
ATLANTA – Tim Gustafson struck out seven batters in seven innings and Whit Robbins homered and drove in three runs to lead No. 4 Georgia Tech (19-4, 4-4 ACC) to an 11-1 win over No. 2 North Carolina (20-4, 5-3) on Saturday night at Russ Chandler Stadium.
Gustafson (2-0) worked a season-high seven innings and established a new career-high with seven strikeouts. He held the Tar Heels to one run on six hits, all singles, and issued one walk.
Lee Hyde and Jared Hyatt each worked a scoreless inning of relief for the Yellow Jackets.
Robbins hit his team-leading sixth home run of the year, and Matt Wieters added two hits.
North Carolina starter Daniel Bard (3-2) took the loss, allowing three runs on two hits and six walks in 3.2 innings. Tar Heel pitchers issued nine walks in the game.
North Carolina used three infield singles and a groundout to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Mike Cavasinni led off with a bunt single, and Reid Fronk and Jay Cox added infield singles to load the bases with one out before Chad Flack drove in the first run of the game with a RBI groundout.
The Yellow Jackets answered in the bottom of the third to tie the game at 1-1. Michael Fisher and Danny Payne drew one-out walks, and both advanced on a passed ball. A RBI groundout from Wes Hodges drove in Fisher and tied the game.
Tech took a 3-1 lead in the third inning on a two-run homer from Robbins.
The Jackets extended the lead to 4-1 with an unearned run in the fifth inning. Matt Wieters singled and scored on a throwing error from UNC shortstop Josh Horton.
The Yellow Jackets broke the game open with a seven run eighth inning, making the score 11-1. Danny Payne extended Tech’s lead to 6-1 with a two-run single. Matt Wieters and Whit Robbins each drove in runs when they were hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Chris House added a two-run single and Steven Blackwood had a RBI single to provide the final 11-1 margin.
Jay Cox led the Tar Heels with two hits.
Georgia Tech and North Carolina will conclude the three-game series on Sunday at 1 p.m.
