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THE FLATS – Catcher Kyle McCann launched a 1-1 ball deep into center field, hitting the top of the batter’s eye to give 19th-ranked Georgia Tech baseball the walk-off 4-3 victory over No. 3 UCLA on Friday night at Russ Chandler Stadium.
The Yellow Jackets (3-1) walked off an opponent for the second-straight game in the 11th inning, just six days after doing the same to West Virginia. The Bruins (4-1) faltered for the first time this season, having not allowed a single earned run entering the weekend.
Outside of McCann’s homer, Georgia Tech was led at the plate by Austin Wilhite and Chase Murray, who both strung together two-hit days. Wilhite finished 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI while Murray also notching 2-for-4. Second baseman Luke Waddell finally broke through at the plate, launching a solo shot over the right field fence to retake the lead for Tech 3-2 in the fifth.
UCLA was led offensively by Garrett Mitchell, who finished with a 3-for-5 outing, while Matt McLain also had a multi-hit day at 2-for-5 and Jack Stronach had an RBI.
Both teams displayed elite pitching on Friday night, dueling back and forth for the entire 11-inning game. Tech had four pitchers go on the night with Xzavion Curry getting the fine start, going 5.0 innings, four strikeouts while only allowing five hits and one earned run. It then got big relief pitches out of Jonathan Hughes, who went 2.2 scoreless with two strikeouts and just one hit.
Junior Tristin English (1-0) once again played closer for the Jackets, pitching the final 3.0 innings, striking out two and allowing two hits. Of his 29 total pitches, 21 were strikes.
The Bruins used just two pitchers on the evening, as Zach Pettway went 7.0 innings, allowing five hits, three runs and a walk while punching out five batters. In relief for UCLA was Kyle Mora (0-1), who pitched the final 3.0, allowing a run and two hits, but striking out six.
The Yellow Jackets return for game two against third-ranked UCLA on Saturday at Russ Chandler Stadium. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra.