April 17, 2016
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THE FLATS – No. 19 Georgia Tech snapped its four-game slump with a season-high-tying 16 hits Sunday afternoon as the Yellow Jackets thumped No. 12 NC State 16-7.
With the win, Georgia Tech (24-11, 8-9 ACC) snapped its longest losing streak of the season, while also snapping a four-game ACC home losing skid and a four-game losing skid to the Wolfpack (26-10, 10-6). Junior LHP Ben Parr (6-0) earned the victory, going 2.1 innings of middle relief after replacing starting pitcher Cole Pitts.
Junior reliever Matthew Gorst earned his ninth save of the season, tossing 2.2 innings of scoreless relief.
THE BASICS
• Georgia Tech is now 17-6 at home this season.
• Georgia Tech snapped both its four-game ACC home losing streak and its four-game overall losing streak.
• Sunday marked the 29th different lineup for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in 35 games.
• 24 of Tech’s 35 games this season have been played in less than three hours. Georgia Tech is 4-7 in games played in more than three hours.
• Sunday was only Tech’s second win when allowing seven or more runs in game. Georgia Tech is 2-10 when allowing seven or more runs. Tech had lost six straight when allowing seven or more runs.
QUOTEBOARD
“I felt like we played hard. After scuffling here for two days, our guys came out very determined. It took a team effort so it’s definitely a good win. I’m just proud of the way our guys battled today.” — Georgia Tech head coach Danny Hall on Sunday’s win
“I’ve been having a down week the past three games. I went up there with the best mentality and decided `hey, I need to get something going for my team.'” — Freshman Tristin English on his career-first home run
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Georgia Tech broke the scoreless tie with a 4-run 3rd inning. With the bases loaded, Kel Johnson delivered a 1-out, 3-RBI double to the gap in left-center for a 3-0 lead. Johnson then came home on Joey Bart’s RBI single to right.
• NC State quickly erased Tech’s 4-run lead with a 5-run 4th inning. Chance Shepard’s grand slam to left field tied the game at 4-4. Brock Deatherage followed with a solo shot to left for a 5-4 NC State lead.
• The Yellow Jackets responded with seven unanswered runs for an 11-5 lead.
• Tristin English’s solo homer down the left field line tied the game at 5-5 in the 5th.
• Tech broke the game open with a 6-run 6th inning. With two out, Matt Gonzalez gave the Jackets a 6-5 lead with an RBI single through the right side. Johnson then plated two more runs with a single to right for an 8-5 lead. Two batters later, English scored Johnson with an RBI double. Two more runs later scored on a fielding error by NC State CF Brett Kinneman.
• NC State pulled to within four runs, 11-7, with a 2-run 7th inning.
• Tech put an exclamation point on Sunday’s scoring with a 5-run 8th inning. Brandt Stallings hit his second 3-run home run of the weekend and Connor Justus drove in two more runs with a double down the left field line.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Georgia Tech’s 16 hits tied a season high. The Jackets scored 16 runs in a 16-8 win over Virginia Tech on March 20.
• Freshman Joey Bart has made consecutive starts behind the plate for the first time this season.
• Senior Cole Pitts made his first weekend start of the season and his first since May 2, 2015, in game 2 of a doubleheader vs. Presbyterian. Sunday marked his first weekend start in ACC play since April 25, 2015, vs. Clemson.
• Freshman Tristin English hit his career-first home run in the 5th inning.
• Sophomore Kel Johnson tied a career high with 5 RBI. He finished 2-for-5.
• Freshman Brandt Stallings hit a 3-run home run for the second straight game. Stallings finished the afternoon 1-for-5.
• Junior Matthew Gorst recorded his ninth save which ties him for 5th on Tech’s single-season saves list (Jim Poole, 1988; Chris Hicks, 2008).
• Gorst’s 10 career saves are tied for 12th on Tech’s all-time list (Zane Evans, Andrew Robinson).
• Since allowing his lone run of the season, Gorst has pitched 16.0 scoreless innings of relief, walking only three batters and allowing five hits with 16 strikeouts.
• Senior Matt Gonzalez made his first start at 3rd base since March 15 vs. Auburn.
• Junior Grant Wruble made his first start of the season and his first since April 12, 2015, vs. Virginia. It was Wruble’s first start in the outfield since April 5, 2015, at Virginia Tech.
• Connor Justus (74 games), Wade Bailey (57 games), Kel Johnson (28 games) and Tristin English (21 games) each extended their career-best consecutive starts streaks Sunday vs. NC State.
UP NEXT
A busy week ahead for No. 19 Georgia Tech as the Yellow Jackets host Mercer at 6 p.m. Tuesday night and play cross-town rival Georgia State at 6 p.m. on Wednesday in Pantherville.
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