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Jenkins Sends Jackets to Semifinals in Thriller

Box Score (.pdf) | Photo Gallery

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – In its second five-hour, extra-innings slugfest in two weeks, Andrew Jenkins’ 12th-inning double and a fielding error powered No. 17 Georgia Tech baseball to a 9-8 victory over Louisville on Thursday afternoon at Truist Field and its second-straight berth in the ACC Championship semifinals on May 29.

The Yellow Jackets (29-22) had trailed most of the game, but clawed back to make it 6-3 through five innings. Then in the eighth, the dam finally broke as freshman Kevin Parada blasted a three-run homer to left field to even things up.

The Cardinals (28-22) would then solo homer in the top of the 11th, but Drew Compton responded with an RBI double to deep center field to drive in pinch-runner Brad Grenkoski. Louisville again took the lead in the 12th on a solo shot, but with one out, Tres Gonzalez singled to start the rally.

After a groundout moved Gonzalez to second and Justyn-Henry Malloy walked, Jenkins drove a first-pitch changeup to left center to plate Gonzalez before an outfield fielding error allowed Malloy the opportunity to score the game-winning run.

On the mound, Georgia Tech got contribution from a number of arms in its deep bullpen over the course of the five-hour, seven-minute ballgame after starter LHP Brant Hurter struggled early. Despite allowing two runs, RHP Andy Archer steadied the game for 2.1 innings, before RHP Zach Maxwell (1 H, 0 R, 3 K) dominated the next 2.2 innings.

LHP Luke Bartnicki (0 H, 0 R, 2 K) then carried the torch to extras with overwhelming stuff before RHP Chance Huff (0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R) and LHP Joseph Mannelly (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 K) handled the game to the final out, which was recorded by true freshman RHP Dawson Brown (2-0) for his second winning decision.

Louisville was led by Henry Davis who had three hits and a homer. RHP Luke Smith (3-4) received the loss, allowing one unearned run on one hit.

The 17th-ranked Georgia Tech will now play in its second-straight ACC Championship semifinals game against the winner of Pittsburgh and NC State. The semifinals matchup is on Saturday, May 29 with first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on ACC Network and WREK 91.1 FM.

Postgame Notes:

  • #CardiacJackets improve to 7-3 (.700) in one-run games this season and are 19-10 (.655) since 2019;
  • Georgia Tech has now played seven one-run games in its last 11, winning five of them;
  • Georgia Tech has now won four walk-off games this season, three of which in the last 10 games;
  • Andrew Jenkins and Kevin Parada both finished a triple shy of the cycle – Jenkins 3-for-6 with a double and homer for three RBI; Parada: going 2-for-5 with a double and homer for three RBI;
  • Overall, Tech had five multi-hit performances of the day – Drew Compton (3-for-6, two doubles, one RBI), Tres Gonzalez (2-for-6, doubles), and Jake DeLeo (2-for-5);
  • The go-ahead hit is Jenkins’ third of his career (all this season);
  • In the month of May, Jenkins has hit .417 with 25 hits, five doubles, a triple and four homers for 13 RBI in 14 games.

Multimedia:

Postgame Press Conference (Coach Hall, Andrew Jenkins)

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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 Support The Swarm Fund, which helps Georgia Tech athletics offset the significant financial challenges associated with Covid-19, and 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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