Game 1: Box Score (.pdf) | Game 2: Box Score (.pdf)
THE FLATS – No. 7 Georgia Tech baseball raced to its second-straight sweep of the season, winning the doubleheader 14-5 in game two and 7-3 in game three over Gardner-Webb on Saturday at Mac Nease Baseball Park at Russ Chandler Stadium.
The Yellow Jackets (7-1) were led by RHP Zach Maxwell (1-0), who pitched a gem in the first game, punching out a career-high 11 batters over six innings, allowing just one run on three hits and walking just two. At the plate, Kevin Parada was sensational, going 4-for-4 in game one with two home runs, a double and six RBI, before having three hits in game two – two doubles for four RBI.
Game 1: Georgia Tech 14, Gardner-Webb 5
Behind a terrific start from Maxwell, the bats were once again alive as the team put up a seven spot in the third before three in the fifth and sixth to create the margin. Beyond Parada, Tech was led by Stephen Reid, who had two hits, a homer and four RBI, Drew Compton, who went 2-for-2 and Andrew Jenkins, who had two doubles and an RBI.
Colin Hall and Tim Borden II also finished with two hits for the game.
After Maxwell on the mound, RHP Marquis Grissom, Jr. pitched the next two innings, surrendering three earned runs, before RHP Cort Roedig slammed the door with three strikeouts in the final inning.
The Runnin’ Bulldogs (2-6) were led by Curtis Robison, who finished 2-for-4 with a double and home run for five RBI, while RHP Drew Janssen (0-1) took the loss, allowing seven runs on six hits in 2.0 innings.
Game 2: Georgia Tech 7, Gardner-Webb 3
In a much closer affair, Georgia Tech got tremendous support from its bullpen. After freshman starter RHP Aeden Finateri went 3.2 innings, surrendering two runs on six hits, LHP Luke Bartnicki (1-0) got his first win of the season by settling the game and holding the Runnin’ Bulldogs to no hits over the next 2.1 innings.
LHP Joseph Mannelly bridged the Jackets with 1.1 innings of one-hit work before RHP Dawson Brown was able to close the game and get his second save of the season.
Tech got its offensive production in the form of a Parada double, Tres Gonzalez double, Drew Compton sac fly and John Giesler RBI single. Parada would then give Tech a much bigger cushion in the bottom of the eighth with a bases clearing, three RBI double to secure the sweep.
Gardner-Webb was led by Trevor Mattson, who went 2-for-2 with a double while LHP Tyler Switalski (0-1) took the loss, who allowed two earned runs on 1.1 innings to start.
Seventh-ranked Georgia Tech will briefly head crosstown to face in-state foe Georgia State on Tuesday, March 1. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and WREK 91.1 FM.
Postgame Notes:
- Zach Maxwell pitched a career-long 6.0 innings (prev.5.0 vs. Ohio State (Feb. 23, 2020))
- Maxwell struck out a career-high 11 batters (prev. 8 vs. Ohio State (Feb. 23, 2020))
- The Georgia Tech pitching staff struck out 18 batters in game one, one shy of tying the program record in a nine-inning game (19, twice – last vs. Augusta, April 23, 1989)
- On the week, Kevin Parada hit .571, compiling 12 hits, four doubles and five home runs for a gaudy 17 RBI. He slugged 1.476 and struck out just twice in 21 at-bats for a .591 on-base percentage. He also stole two bases.
- Georgia Tech stole 14 bases on the week, led by Chandler Simpson’s six stolen bases. Colin Hall also had four and Tres Gonzalez had two.
- Six Georgia Tech hitters hit .400 or better on the week – Parada, Simpson, Hall, Gonzalez, Tim Borden and John Giesler.
- The Georgia Tech pitching staff worked to a 3.68 ERA on the week, striking out 56 overall in 44.0 innings.
Multimedia:
Postgame Press Conference (Coach Hall, Zach Maxwell, Kevin Parada)
Around Social Media
Pregame views 😍 pic.twitter.com/GK4WAORwfm
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 26, 2022
🔥🔥🔥🔥
9️⃣8️⃣ mph for the K@ZachTMaxwell | #WreckHavoc pic.twitter.com/bcnsoYEkLj
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 26, 2022
BROCK SHOT!!
Fourth-straight game with a 💣@parada_kevin_ | #WreckHavoc pic.twitter.com/wzCSFFsM10
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 26, 2022
Parada AMBUSHES the first pitch and brings home two!
GT leads 4-0 💪@parada_kevin_ | #WreckHavoc pic.twitter.com/LIbdvYgxbr
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 26, 2022
AN ABSOLUTE NO-DOUBTER 😮@stephennreid | #WreckHavoc pic.twitter.com/JK4Mnvc3sG
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 26, 2022
8️⃣ strikeouts through four!
Ties a career high 💪@ZachTMaxwell | #WreckHavoc pic.twitter.com/axp5966occ
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 26, 2022
A single, a homer and now an RBI double… Pretty, pretty good.
Jackets lead 9-0@parada_kevin_ | #WreckHavoc pic.twitter.com/8t1ePCKqFK
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 26, 2022
Doubles for days 😍
Jackets up 10-0
Andrew Jenkins | #WreckHavoc pic.twitter.com/PbUQBY3oUL
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 26, 2022
Shoestring catch!! 👀@tresgonzalez406 | #WreckHavoc pic.twitter.com/83h45m98vB
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 26, 2022
10 pitches to retire the fifth…
Career-high 🔟 punchouts today 💪@ZachTMaxwell | #WreckHavoc pic.twitter.com/haYHnC9ErW
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 26, 2022
Kevin Parada. Very good at baseball.
Two 💣 today, five this week 👀@parada_kevin_ | #WreckHavoc pic.twitter.com/Qw0mJxEwnX
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 26, 2022
That's a 2⃣ 💣 day for @parada_kevin_!#NCCABaseball x 🎥 @GTBaseball pic.twitter.com/4BM4S4dcmt
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) February 26, 2022
Keep raking KP 😤@parada_kevin_ | #WreckHavoc pic.twitter.com/u4TL5bAezz
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 26, 2022
An RBI double for @tresgonzalez406 and the Jackets up early 3-0 🔥#WreckHavoc pic.twitter.com/cXm2tLcRAj
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 26, 2022
Marquis Grissom Jr, T97mph with a nasty Slider. pic.twitter.com/FcUwiq1aX4
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) February 26, 2022
Giesler battles at the plate to launch an RBI single with no outs in the fourth
Jackets lead 4-2@john_giesler | #WreckHavoc pic.twitter.com/QEVDJkW9J4
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 26, 2022
Mannelly holds the lead with a clean seventh
Jackets up 4-2@josephbmannelly | #WreckHavoc pic.twitter.com/hKwrzKSLNP
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 26, 2022
Needed it. GOT IT!@chandlr27 ➡ @t_breezyy10 ➡ Andrew Jenkins!!#WreckHavoc pic.twitter.com/IcqVVZ2Be7
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 27, 2022
KEVIN PARADA HAVE A DAY/WEEK!!
Cleans the plate and Tech up 7-2!@parada_kevin_ | #WreckHavoc pic.twitter.com/oErRvfxvXD
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 27, 2022
🧹🧹🧹#WreckHavoc pic.twitter.com/OkqdHKqvTv
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) February 27, 2022
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