THE FLATS – No. 16 Georgia Tech baseball’s bullpen combined for 6.0 innings of four hits, no runs and seven strikeouts to shutdown Kennesaw State and get the 5-4 win on Wednesday night at Mac Nease Baseball Park at Russ Chandler Stadium.
The Yellow Jackets (9-0) got three innings of LHP Dalton Smith, who held the Owls (5-2) to four runs, before turning to RHP Aeden Finateri, who went 1.0 innings of shutout ball to cool them off.
RHP Ben King (1-0) got his second-career decision victory, going 2.0 innings of one-hit ball before handing the ball to LHP Joseph Mannelly, who turned in two more innings of shutdown ball.
With a one-run lead, Tech turned to closer RHP Terry Busse, who got his fourth save of the season with three-straight strikeouts to slam the door.
Jackson Finley hit the go-ahead, three-run home run in the fifth. Jake DeLeo and Jack Rubenstein both led with two-hit nights, while John Giesler also drove in a run.
Kennesaw State was led by Spencer Hanson, who went 2-for-3 with a home run. LHP Brayden Eidson (0-1) received the loss, surrendering three runs on three hits in 1.0 innings.
Georgia Tech renews Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate this weekend when it faces off against Georgia in a three-game series. Game 1 will be in Athens at 6 p.m. with Game 2 nearing a sellout at Mac Nease Baseball Park at 2 p.m. Game 3 will then head to Coolray Field for the 20th annual Spring Classic for the Kids, benefitting Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. First pitch on Sunday is at 3 p.m.
Postgame Notes:
- Jackson Finley has now hit four home runs in two days and five home runs in last three games;
- Georgia Tech’s 9-0 start is its best since 2016 (12-0).
Multimedia:
Postgame Press Conference (Coach Hall, Ben King, Terry Busse)
Around Social Media
9️⃣-0️⃣ pic.twitter.com/DQlQT398Wm
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) March 1, 2023
@GeorgiaAquarium check the tanks, we got a king shark causing havoc down at Russ Chandler @jackson_finley @GTBaseball https://t.co/PUARntFQmE
— Zeke Pinkham (@zpink11) March 2, 2023
He is the one who knocks 😤#ScaryTerry | @terrybusse pic.twitter.com/xkDGzlAs7u
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) March 2, 2023
Mannelly gets the K and puts up another clean frame!@josephbmannelly | #WreckHavoc pic.twitter.com/H3FocCC7jp
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) March 1, 2023
STEPHEN REID WITH THE SNAG!@stephennreid | #WreckHavoc pic.twitter.com/UpvYKCLdjB
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) March 1, 2023
.@GTBaseball Jackson Finley:
2.24 vs. Tenn. Tech: 💣
2.25 vs. TT:
2.26 vs. TT: 💣
2.28 vs. LIU: 💣💣💣
3.1 vs. Kennesaw St: 💣Unreal stuff. Finley is 12-for-21 (.571), 6 HR, 16 RBIpic.twitter.com/pgeX3lWpCu
— Friday Starters (@fridaystarters) March 1, 2023
TURNED IT! @DemitriDiamant to @Nicholas9Romano (barehand!) to @john_giesler !! pic.twitter.com/JBgfGF01Xk
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) March 1, 2023
JACKSON FINLEY UNHUMAN!! Fourth home run in two days, fifth in three games! pic.twitter.com/XSgLUXnvLB
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) March 1, 2023
.@aeden_finateri's striking them out 🔥 pic.twitter.com/uL4OcPZwVr
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) March 1, 2023
Alexander-Tharpe Fund
The Alexander-Tharpe Fund is the fundraising arm of Georgia Tech athletics, providing scholarship, operations and facilities support for Georgia Tech’s 400-plus student-athletes. Be a part of developing Georgia Tech’s Everyday Champions and helping the Yellow Jackets compete for championships at the highest levels of college athletics by supporting the Annual Athletic Scholarship Fund, which directly provides scholarships for Georgia Tech student-athletes. To learn more about supporting the Yellow Jackets, visit atfund.org.
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