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)
Around Social Media
WALK
IT
OFF
JACKETS @GTBaseball advances to the @ACCBaseball Championship Semis 🐝 pic.twitter.com/EsUKddVMmN— ACC Network (@accnetwork) May 28, 2021
WILD WALK OFF ‼️@GTBaseball is semifinal bound! pic.twitter.com/wvz9jopaP3
— ACC Baseball (@ACCBaseball) May 28, 2021
Walk us off then, @GTBaseball 🔥 pic.twitter.com/mUCjrSZgZK
— Bally Sports South (@BallySportsSO) May 28, 2021
WHAT A GAME!!!!!!! Resilience. Grit. Toughness. So proud of @GTBaseball. #WreckHavoc /// #TogetherWeSwarm
— Todd Stansbury (@GTToddStansbury) May 28, 2021
NEVER QUIT! @GTBaseball outlasts Louisville in 12-inning thriller. Hear the scoring highlights below (including a five-hour induced voice crack from @wiley_ballard) #WreckHavoc https://t.co/KE6c4oLJcV
— WREK Sports (@WREKSports) May 28, 2021
𝙒𝙍𝙀𝘾𝙆
𝙃𝘼𝙑𝙊𝘾 pic.twitter.com/DtwUTZ00wP
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) May 28, 2021
.@GTBaseball has four walk-off wins this season.
Three have come in the past 10 days 🤯 pic.twitter.com/K2RpxNIAJG
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) May 28, 2021
YOU BETTER BELIEVE OH MY GOODNESS AN ERROR ON JENKINS MISSILE AND TECH WALKS IT OFF!!!
TECH WINS TECH WINS TECH WINS!!!
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) May 28, 2021
Drew. Compton.
Tie ballgame 🐝 @GTBaseball pic.twitter.com/3HPtfIaUwH
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) May 27, 2021
TIE BALL GAME ‼️
Kevin Parada's 3-run 💣 in the 8th has us even at 6-6! #ACCBASE | @GTBaseball pic.twitter.com/7oQHdOo4MQ
— ACC Baseball (@ACCBaseball) May 27, 2021
💥💣 ANDREW JENKINS 💣💥
The freshman drills his 7th home run of the season to put 2 on the board for @GTBaseball #ACCBASE pic.twitter.com/XjCzBizdVw
— ACC Baseball (@ACCBaseball) May 27, 2021
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