ATLANTA (Feb. 28) – Shortstop Victor Menocal had three hits freshman Matt Lorenzo tossed a complete-game seven inning shutout to lead top-ranked Georgia Tech to a 18-0 win over visiting Oakland on Feb. 28 at Russ Chandler Stadium.
The victory was Tech’s ninth win in a row and improved the Yellow Jackets’ season record to 10-1. Oakland dropped to 0-6.
Lorenzo (1-0) went the distance in his first collegiate start in a game that was called after seven innings due to the 10-run mercy rule. The righty held the Golden Grizzlies to four hits – all singles – and two walks while registering four strikeouts. Only one Oakland batter advanced past first base.
Oakland starter Justin Robertson (0-2) took the loss after allowing eight runs on nine hits in 3.1 innings of work.
Tech built a 4-0 lead with two runs in the second inning and two more in the third before putting the game away with a 12-run fourth inning. The Yellow Jackets sent 16 batters to the plate in the inning, collecting 10 hits and three walks en route to their biggest single inning output of the season.
Menocal, who also drove in two runs, had three hits in his first three at bats to run his streak to eight consecutive hits over the last two days before grounding out in the fourth inning. Jon Henry Kail led the Tech offense with three RBI, while Richard Lewis, Bryan Prince, Brian Jackson, and Tyler Parker each added two RBI for the Yellow Jackets.
The Yellow Jackets outhit the Golden Grizzlies 17-4, including two hits apiece from Kail, Prince, Wes Rynders and Matthew Boggs. Oakland’s Rob Brockman and Spencer Hynes each had two hits for the Golden Grizzlies.
Georgia Tech will travel to Orlando, Fla., to face the Atlanta Braves in an exhibition on Thursday at 1 p.m. at the Disney Wide World of Sports before returning to Russ Chandler Stadium to open a three-game series with No. 25 Rutgers on Friday at 3 p.m.
