Feb. 25, 2009
STATESBORO, Ga. – Kevin Jacob worked 6.2 strong innings and Matt Skole drove in three runs on a pair of extra-base hits to help Georgia Tech (4-1) to a 5-3 win over Georgia Southern (4-1) Wednesday afternoon at J.I. Clements Stadium.
The win evened the season series at 1-1, with a pair of games still remaining on the 2009 schedule. The two teams will meet again in Atlanta for a two-game series in early April.
Jacob (1-0), making the first start of his college career, allowed just three runs – only two of which were earned – while striking out four to pick up the first win of his career. The Baltimore native’s 6.2 innings eclipsed his previous career high of 4.0 innings, set last season against Duke.
Skole hit a two-run home run in the top of the third inning and added a run-scoring double in the fifth, which helped the Jackets to a 5-2 lead in the contest.
Luke Murton led all players with three hits and three runs scored, while Skole, Jason Haniger and Derek Dietrich all added two hits apiece.
The Yellow Jackets jumped on the Eagles early, scoring two runs in the top of the first on a two-out, two-run single by Haniger.
Georgia Southern answered with a run in the bottom of the inning when Matt Miller reached on a leadoff single, moved to second on a base hit by Phillip Porter, advanced to third on a flyout and scored on Griffin Benedict’s one-out RBI single. Jacob then forced Ty Wright to fly out to centerfielder Jeff Rowland, who threw out Phillip Porter when he tried to advance to third base on the play.
Zach Brewster came on in relief of Jacob with two outs in the bottom of the seventh and forced Miller to fly out, ending the Georgia Southern threat. Closer Mark Pope then finished off the contest by facing the minimum over the final two innings to earn the first save of his career.
The Jackets will be back in action this weekend when they host Rutgers for a three-game series at Russ Chandler Stadium. Game times are 4 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. The entire series can be heard on WREK Radio (www.wrek.org), while live stats are available at Ramblinwreck.com.
