March 18, 2008
KENNESAW, Ga. – Deck McGuire tossed seven shutout innings to lead No. 17 Georgia Tech (14-4) to a 10-0 win over Kennesaw State (6-12) Tuesday night at Stillwell Stadium.
Derek Dietrich and Thomas Nichols led the Yellow Jackets with two hits apiece while Brad Feltes drove in a game-high three runs to help Tech snap a three-game losing streak.
McGuire (3-0) allowed just three hits and struck out six to pick up his third win of the season.
Dietrich snapped a scoreless tie with a one-out home run in the fourth inning and the Jackets added four more in the top of the fifth to take a five run lead. Tech scored its first run of the fifth inning on a wild pitch by Owl reliever Michael Bohana before Feltes sent a three-run home run, his third of the season, into the left-center field terrace to make the score 5-0.
Georgia Tech pushed the score to 6-0 in the sixth inning when Nichols led off the frame with a single, moved to second on a pinch-hit single by Luke Murton, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from Patrick Long and scored on a wild pitch by Kennesaw State reliever Kyle Clayton.
Back-to-back doubles by Dietrich and Nichols helped Tech extend its lead to 10-0 in the seventh inning. Charlie Blackmon reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second base, and scored on Dietrich’s second hit of the game before Nichols plated Dietrich and Feltes, who reached earlier on a walk, to give Tech a nine-run lead. Nichols came around to score the 10th run of the game on a fielding error by Owls third baseman Tyler Stubblefield.
Kevin Jacob worked a scoreless eighth inning, and sophomore Sean Devine, making his first collegiate appearance, retired the last three batters in order to close out the game.
Kennesaw State starter Micah Sales (0-3) took the loss after giving up one run on four hits in four innings of work.
The Jackets return to Russ Chandler Stadium to host the Mercer Bears for the first time since 2003 Wednesday at 6 p.m. A live video broadcast of the game can be found on ACC Select (gatech.playonsports.tv) while live stats will be available at Ramblinwreck.com.
–GT–
