Jenkins Sends Jackets to Semifinals in ThrillerJenkins Sends Jackets to Semifinals in Thriller
Baseball

Jenkins Sends Jackets to Semifinals in Thriller

Clutch hitting drives Georgia Tech’s 12th-inning comeback over Louisville

Box Score

Box Score (.pdf) | Photo Gallery

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – In its second five-hour, extra-innings slugfest in two weeks, Andrew Jenkins’ 12th-inning double and a fielding error powered No. 17 Georgia Tech baseball to a 9-8 victory over Louisville on Thursday afternoon at Truist Field and its second-straight berth in the ACC Championship semifinals on May 29.

The Yellow Jackets (29-22) had trailed most of the game, but clawed back to make it 6-3 through five innings. Then in the eighth, the dam finally broke as freshman Kevin Parada blasted a three-run homer to left field to even things up.

The Cardinals (28-22) would then solo homer in the top of the 11th, but Drew Compton responded with an RBI double to deep center field to drive in pinch-runner Brad Grenkoski. Louisville again took the lead in the 12th on a solo shot, but with one out, Tres Gonzalez singled to start the rally.

After a groundout moved Gonzalez to second and Justyn-Henry Malloy walked, Jenkins drove a first-pitch changeup to left center to plate Gonzalez before an outfield fielding error allowed Malloy the opportunity to score the game-winning run.

On the mound, Georgia Tech got contribution from a number of arms in its deep bullpen over the course of the five-hour, seven-minute ballgame after starter LHP Brant Hurter struggled early. Despite allowing two runs, RHP Andy Archer steadied the game for 2.1 innings, before RHP Zach Maxwell (1 H, 0 R, 3 K) dominated the next 2.2 innings.

LHP Luke Bartnicki (0 H, 0 R, 2 K) then carried the torch to extras with overwhelming stuff before RHP Chance Huff (0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R) and LHP Joseph Mannelly (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 K) handled the game to the final out, which was recorded by true freshman RHP Dawson Brown (2-0) for his second winning decision.

Louisville was led by Henry Davis who had three hits and a homer. RHP Luke Smith (3-4) received the loss, allowing one unearned run on one hit.

The 17th-ranked Georgia Tech will now play in its second-straight ACC Championship semifinals game against the winner of Pittsburgh and NC State. The semifinals matchup is on Saturday, May 29 with first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on ACC Network and WREK 91.1 FM.

Postgame Notes:

  • #CardiacJackets improve to 7-3 (.700) in one-run games this season and are 19-10 (.655) since 2019;
  • Georgia Tech has now played seven one-run games in its last 11, winning five of them;
  • Georgia Tech has now won four walk-off games this season, three of which in the last 10 games;
  • Andrew Jenkins and Kevin Parada both finished a triple shy of the cycle – Jenkins 3-for-6 with a double and homer for three RBI; Parada: going 2-for-5 with a double and homer for three RBI;
  • Overall, Tech had five multi-hit performances of the day – Drew Compton (3-for-6, two doubles, one RBI), Tres Gonzalez (2-for-6, doubles), and Jake DeLeo (2-for-5);
  • The go-ahead hit is Jenkins’ third of his career (all this season);
  • In the month of May, Jenkins has hit .417 with 25 hits, five doubles, a triple and four homers for 13 RBI in 14 games.

Multimedia:

Postgame Press Conference (Coach Hall, Andrew Jenkins)

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