ATLANTA (March 23) – Junior right hander Steve Kelly threw seven shutout innings, while shortstop Victor Menocal homered and drove in five runs as third-ranked Georgia Tech defeated Maryland, 15-1, in the opener of a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series at Russ Chandler Stadium March 23.
The Jackets (18-6, 2-2 ACC) blew the game open early, scoring nine unearned runs in the bottom of the second, all coming with two outs in the inning. Second baseman Matthew Boggs was hit by an Eric D’Alessandro pitch with the bases loaded, which plated Tech’s first run. Menocal and Richard Lewis followed with a pair of singles, before a two-run double by Brian Prince opened the lead to 6-0. Jason Basil and Jason Perry then posted back-to-back home runs to increase the lead to 9-0. D’Alessandro (1-2) allowed nine unearned runs and five hits in 1 2/3 innings of work.
Tech increased the lead to 11-0 in the fourth courtesy of a two-run double by Basil. A three-run home run by Menocal in the bottom of the seventh upped Tech’s lead to 14-0.
Maryland (5-12, 0-4 ACC) scored its lone run in the top of the eighth as a sacrifice fly by John McCurdy scored Edwin Thompson.
An RBI groundout by Jason Perry in the bottom of the eighth provided the final 15-1 margin.
Kelly scattered just four hits while striking out five and walking one en route to picking up his fourth win of the seaon.
Matt Lorenzo and Aaron Walker combined to yield to just an unearned run over the final two innings to close out the victory.
Basil and Menocal each captured three hits to lead the Jackets’ offense, while McCurdy, Brian Patenaude, Steve Oursler and Chuck Easter picked up the Terps four hits.
Georgia Tech and Maryland will continue their series on Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. at Russ Chandler Stadium.
