ATLANTA (Feb. 27) – Sophomore third baseman Mark Teixeira scored on a throwing error by UNC Greensboro catcher Jesse Martin in the bottom of the ninth, as No. 7 Georgia Tech (8-2) rallied to defeat the Spartans 8-7 at Russ Chandler Stadium on Sunday afternoon, February 27.
Trailing 7-6 going to the bottom of the ninth, leadoff hitter Richard Lewis got the Jackets’ rally started with his fifth single of the game. After Wes Rynders reached on a fielder’s choice and Teixeira walked, a single by catcher Bryan Prince knotted the score at 7-7.
With Teixeira on third, a missed squeeze bunt by Jason Basil prompted Martin’s errant throw back to third, which sailed over third baseman Nelson Mayton’s head, allowing Teixeira to score the winning run.
Tech’s offense was highlighted by Lewis’ five-hit performance, the first five-hit game for a Jacket since April 28, 1998.
The Spartans (5-4) got on the board first, using consecutive doubles off Tech starter Rhett Parrott to leadoff the game, as they jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Tech struck back with four in the bottom of the first, keyed by a three-run home run by Tech shortstop Victor Menocal.
UNCG added two more in the top of the second to knot the score at 4-4 on a two-run home run by Jeremy Purcell. A two-run home run by Ryan Gordon, his third of the series, put the Spartans ahead 6-4 in the fourth.
After UNC Greensboro added a run in the seventh to build the lead to 7-4, Tech’s offense answered with a pair in the seventh to cut the lead to 7-6. Andy Mitchell (1-0) shut down UNCG at the plate over the final 2-1/3 innings as he picked up the win.
Right-hander Ted Toler (0-1) took the loss for UNCG, allowing the two runs in the ninth. The Jackets return to action on Tuesday afternoon, as Georgia Tech will face its arch-rival, Georgia, in a 4 p.m. contest at Foley Field in Athens.
