Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech held tough on Sunday afternoon in the first action against an opponent this fall, tying Jacksonville State 5-5 in the first game of the day, before winning the second game, 5-2.
The Yellow Jackets and Gamecocks played a doubleheader of two 7-inning games on the day at Mac Nease Baseball Park at Russ Chandler Stadium.
Game 1: Georgia Tech 5, Jacksonville State 5
Strong pitching led Georgia Tech early in the first game as RHP Jackson Finley started and worked a one-hit, two-inning outing where he struck out three. RHP Logan McGuire then allowed one unearned run on two hits over the next two innings before RHP Luke Schmolke struck out four over two with just one hit allowed.
The Yellow Jackets then poured in four runs in the sixth inning, thanks to clutch hitting from Stephen Reid, Angelo Dispigna and John Giesler.
Reid and Giesler finished with two RBI apiece while Dispigna recorded two hits and an RBI.
The Gamecocks were able to climb back into the game in the top of the seventh, when an infield error with two outs wound up leading to a three-run frame for JSU to force the tie against LHP Dalton Smith, who finished with a final line of 1.0 innings, one hit, three unearned runs, two walks and a strikeout.
Game 2: Georgia Tech 5, Jacksonville State 2
Once again, the Yellow Jackets’ arms delivered, pitching six shutout innings before allowing two in the seventh.
RHP Terry Busse sparked the effort with five strikeouts in the opening two innings, surrendering just a hit and walk. LHP Noah Samol, RHP Ben King and RHP Aeden Finateri and LHP Cody Carwile then combined to keep the shutout alive and the Gamecocks’ offense stagnant through six before two runs crossed against LHP Camron Hill in the seventh.
At the plate, Tech recorded seven hits in the second game, led by Nicolas Romano and Jackson Finley’s two hits apiece. Romano would also finish with two RBI, while Finley drove one in.
Carsten Sabathia impressed at the plate launched a mammoth home run in the second inning before driving in a run in the seventh on a double down the right field line.
