Feb. 24, 2017
THE FLATS – The No. 17 Yellow Jackets launched four home runs and scored eight runs in the first inning to cruise past the Youngstown State Penguins 15-6 on Friday afternoon at Russ Chandler Stadium.
The bats were hot from the start for the home-standing Jackets, as catcher Joey Bart led the way going 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, three RBIs and a run scored. Redshirt-senior Coleman Poje went 2-for-4 with a home run, an RBI and two runs scored, while designated hitter Brandt Stallings was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Tech freshmen Chase Murray (2-for-3, home run, three RBIs, two runs scored) and Kyle McCann (1-for-1, home run) each registered their first career home run as a Yellow Jacket in the win.
On the mound, freshman Xzavion Curry (2-0) picked up his second win in as many starts going 5.0 innings on the day. The righty surrendered three runs on seven hits and two walks, but also tallied five strikeouts in the victory.
The home team got to YSU starter Joe King (0-2) from the jump, as the Jackets, who have yet to trail at all this season, plated eight runs on seven hits and one error in the bottom of the first.
After a leadoff walk to Wade Bailey, the junior second baseman swiped second beating out a pickoff attempt by the Penguins. Trevor Craport then reached base on an YSU throwing error to put runners on first and second with no outs to open up the frame.
The Jackets followed with an RBI single to right from Bart and then an RBI ground out to the shortstop by Kel Johnson to go ahead at 2-0.
With two outs, Poje walked and then advanced up to third on a double down the left field line from centerfielder Ryan Peurifoy. With two men on, Stallings singled to center field to drive in both Poje and Peurifoy to double up the lead at 4-0.
Murray kept the inning alive with a single to center, before Austin Wilhite doubled to right to plate Stallings from third. Bailey, who led off the inning, then hit a two-run single to score both Murray and Wilhite to put the Jackets on top early at 7-0.
Craport capped the inning with an RBI double to give the Jackets an 8-0 lead after just one inning of play.
Tech picked up where they left off in the bottom half of the second, as a two-out walk to Peurifoy and a second single by Stallings in as many at bats brought up Murray who blasted a 1-1 pitch over the right center field wall for a three-run shot to put the Jackets on top at 11-0.
Bart added a solo shot in the third, his second home run of the year, before the Penguins were able to push across three runs in the top of the fourth by way of an RBI bases loaded walk by Kyle Benyo and an RBI single from both Web Charles and Nico Padovan to put the score at 12-3 heading into the bottom half of the fourth.
Poje got one of those runs back in the bottom half of the fourth with a solo shot to dead center field, his first home run of the season, to put the score at 13-3.
The Yellow Jackets got an RBI double from Bart in the fifth, while Youngstown State was able to plate three runs of its own in the eighth to cut the Tech lead to eight at 14-6 before reliever Jake Lee got a huge strikeout with the bases loaded to halt the Penguins’ scoring threat.
McCann added an insurance run for good measure with a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth to put the score where it would stand at 15-6.
The Jackets (5-0) will be back in action tomorrow afternoon when they host the Penguins (0-4) for game two of the three-game series at 2 p.m. ET at Russ Chandler Stadium.
Tech Tidbits
* Tech improves to 5-0 on the year with the win on Friday afternoon.
* Tech is now 4-0 at home this season and 4-0 all-time versus Youngstown State.
* The four home runs by the Yellow Jackets is a season-high.
* The 15 runs are the most scored by the Jackets in a single game this season.
* Georgia Tech has yet to trail this year and has only been tied for four innings thus far this season.
* Tech’s offense has scored a total of 13 runs in the first inning over its last two games (5 at Georgia Southern, Feb. 21 and 8 vs. Youngstown State, Feb. 24).
* Over its first five games of the season, Tech has outscored its opponents 36-0 over the first three innings of play.
* Freshman Chase Murray recorded his first career home run as a Yellow Jacket in the win.
* Freshman Kyle McCann launched his first career home run at Tech in the victory.
* Outfielder Coleman Poje hit his first home run of the season in the Tech win.
With four home runs, one by Joey Bart, the Jackets powered past YSU 15-6 on Friday. #TogetherWeSwarm pic.twitter.com/eSlGo07JoP
— GeorgiaTech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 25, 2017
For the latest information on the Georgia Tech baseball team, follow us on Twitter (@GTBaseball) , Facebook , Instagram (@gt_baseball ) or visit us at www.ramblinwreck.com .
