DURHAM, N.C. – Junior Steve Kelly threw seven shutout innings, while senior Brad Stockton belted a grand slam, as third-ranked Georgia Tech defeated Duke, 9-2, in Durham on Friday evening.
Tech (25-7, 7-3 ACC) second baseman Richard Lewis led off the game with his team-leading seventh home run of the season to give the Jackets an early 1-0 lead.
A two-run home run by Jason Basil in the top of the second extended the Tech lead to 3-0.
After singles by Matt Murton, Jason Perry and Jason Basil loaded the bases to lead off the top of the fourth, Stockton’s grand slam upped the margin to 7-0. Lewis later scored from first base on a single by Victor Menocal as Tech’s lead grew to 8-0.
Kelly took over from there, scattering just six hits over seven innings, while walking five and striking out four.
Duke (16-19, 4-5 ACC) got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the eighth on a two-run single by Brian Smith off Tech reliever Aaron Walker.
An RBI single by Basil in the top of the ninth provided the final 9-2 margin.
Andy Mitchell and Jeff Watchko pitched shutout ball over the final 1.1 innings to close out the Blue Devils.
Duke starting pitcher Greg Burke lasted just two innings, having yielded three runs on two hits.
Basil led the Tech attack with three hits, while Lewis, Perry and Murton each tallied two hits for the Jackets, who compiled 13 as a team in the game.
The Jackets and Blue Devils will continue their three game Atlantic Coast Conference series at Jack Coombs Field on Saturday evening at 7 p.m.
