THE FLATS – Georgia Tech baseball used stellar pitching and four home runs to rout Miami (Fla.), 17-1, in seven innings on Sunday afternoon at Mac Nease Baseball Park at Russ Chandler Stadium.
The Yellow Jackets (27-15, 11-10 ACC) have now won four-straight ACC weekend series, becoming only the fourth program to accomplish the feat this season – joining No. 5 Clemson, No. 6 Duke and Virginia Tech.
Tech once again got sensational starting pitching as true freshman RHP Tate McKee (4-3) tied his career high with nine strikeouts, surrendering just one hit (a solo homer) in five innings of work. RHP Dawson Brown and RHP Logan McGuire then combined for 2.0 hitless innings to keep the one-hitter intact.
At the plate, the Jackets scored in all but the sixth inning, having five runs in the third, six runs in the fourth and four runs in the seventh to blow the game open. John Giesler led the day’s efforts with a 3-for-4, five RBI day where he launched two massive home runs, while Matthew Ellis also hit a two-run homer to go along with his two walks.
Freshman Drew Burress tied the school record for freshman home runs, belting his 18th of the season to kickstart the third-inning crooked number.
Other multi-hit performances included a 3-for-5, two-double and two-RBI day from Trey Yunger, a three-hit, two-RBI day for Mike Becchetti and a 2-for-2, one-RBI day for Bobby Zmarzlak.
The Hurricanes (19-24, 8-16 ACC) were led by JD Urso, who had the lone hit of the day. LHP Herick Hernandez (3-5) took the loss, surrendering six runs on seven hits in 2.1 innings.
Georgia Tech takes the midweek off for final exams, but will return on the road for its three-game series at No. 5-ranked Clemson on May 3-5. First pitches are scheduled for 6 p.m., 2 p.m. and 1 p.m. with the series broadcast on ACC Network Extra.
Postgame Notes:
- Georgia Tech’s one-hitter is the fewest hits its allowed since allowing one hit in its 5-2 win over Ohio State on Feb. 22, 2020. It’s the first ACC one-hitter for Tech since April 15, 2011 against Wake Forest (GT won 5-1).
- Mike Becchetti hit .500 for the weekend against Miami, going 5-for-10 with a double, four RBI and no strikeouts. He also played outstanding defense, recording 12 assists with a perfect fielding percentage;
- John Giesler had four hits against the Hurricanes, including two home runs, driving in a team-best seven runs. On the 3-1 week, Giesler had six hits and three home runs with nine RBI, slugging 1.143;
- Bobby Zmarzlak and Cam Jones also hit .400 on the weekend, hitting .429 and .417, respectively.
- Tech’s starting pitching was terrific all weekend as each of them went at least 5.0 innings with Aeden Finateri and Cam Jones pitching 7.0 innings and 9.0 innings, respectively;
- Combined, Tech’s starters worked 21.0 innings, allowing 13 hits, eight runs, two walks, and struck out 21.
Multimedia:
Postgame Press Conference (Coach Hall, Tate McKee)
Around Social Media
Jackets mash four home runs behind stellar pitching to win its fourth-straight ACC series!#WreckHavoc x #StingEm pic.twitter.com/VFQnSy8TNP
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) April 28, 2024
💪 work 🐝!!!!! https://t.co/536pZ7VBvA
— J Batt (@GTBattman) April 28, 2024
Dominant effort by @GTBaseball in all facets to get another big series win. #StingEm https://t.co/aIjI8ltP1V
— Jon Palumbo (@jonpalumbo) April 28, 2024
Yes he did! https://t.co/n25Jo5fKI3
— Ángel Cabrera (@CabreraAngel) April 28, 2024
A little pinch-hit, first-pitch two-RBI single for Michael Graziano!#WreckHavoc pic.twitter.com/GCbDXUnA8I
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) April 28, 2024
3 home runs in 1 inning! Leading 7 to 1. Fun game @GTBaseball! 💛🐝⚾️ pic.twitter.com/Ob6uW4uRba
— Beth Cabrera (@bethcabrera) April 28, 2024
B4 | Back-to-back hits from @treyyunger and @BecchettiMike drive in three more runs for a six-run inning
GT 13 | MIA 1 pic.twitter.com/jZsGk9kJGQ
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) April 28, 2024
TALK TO ME GOOSE!! SECOND HR OF THE DAY!! 452 FEET!@john_giesler | #WreckHavoc pic.twitter.com/b2m55BCaPg
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) April 28, 2024
THIRD HOME RUN OF THE INNING!@john_giesler mashes another one to the football practice field!#WreckHavoc pic.twitter.com/ZGHuzWP0pn
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) April 28, 2024
Dread it, run from it, Ellis in GOLD arrives all the same!!
A 112 mph, 400-foot MISSILE!!@matthew_ellis35 | #WreckHavoc pic.twitter.com/uHbKR201Es
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) April 28, 2024
DREW BURRESS IS INHUMAN!! @drew_burress08 ties the Georgia Tech freshman record with his 18th 💣 of the season! pic.twitter.com/YWdnI0TqeV
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) April 28, 2024
Make it EIGHT strikeouts for @tatemckee1! pic.twitter.com/eCvBzFvgBz
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) April 28, 2024
B1 | Jackets strike first as @matthew_ellis35 drives in a sac fly!
GT 1 | MIA 0 pic.twitter.com/z4OnMZn4tz
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) April 28, 2024
BIG STRIKEOUT FOR MCKEE! Three K's and he gets out of the early jam@TateMckee1 | #WreckHavoc pic.twitter.com/cybzzuyd7e
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) April 28, 2024
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