April 14, 2017
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech saw its 1-0 lead evaporate in the fourth inning, as the No. 2 Louisville Cardinals took advantage of three Tech errors to plate four runs and not look back in a 10-1 win over the Yellow Jackets on Friday night at Russ Chandler Stadium.
The loss drops Georgia Tech to 16-17 overall on the season and 4-13 in ACC play. The nationally ranked Cardinals improved to 30-4 overall and 14-3 in league play with the road win.
Senior Ryan Peurifoy highlighted the Jackets’ night at the plate, as the outfielder was 3-for-3 with three singles, an RBI and a stolen base. Kel Johnson went 1-for-4 with a run scored, while both Austin Wilhite (1-for-4) and Joey Bart (1-for-3, BB) each had a hit on the night.
For Louisville offensively, Colby Fitch was 3-for-5 with a home run, an RBI and three runs scored, while Drew Ellis (1-for-3, 2 BB, 2 RBIs), Colin Lyman (1-for-5, 2B, 2 RBIs, run) and Devin Mann (2-for-5, 2 RBIs) each had two RBIs in the win for the Cardinals.
Tech’s Xzavion Curry (3-4) was handed the loss, as he gave up seven runs, five of which were earned, on eight hits and three walks, while striking out four over 4.2 innings of work.
The win went to the Cards’ Kade McClure (4-1) who allowed just one run on four hits and three walks, while striking out seven over 6.0 innings on the mound.
The Jackets took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second, as Johnson led off the inning with a single up the middle, moved up to second on a balk and then advanced to third on a Chase Murray sacrifice bunt. Peurifoy then singled through the left side to score Johnson and put the home team on top at 1-0 after two complete innings.
After allowing just one base runner over the first three innings via a walk, Curry and the Jackets couldn’t get out of the fourth inning soon enough.
Louisville led off the inning with back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second with no outs. Curry then got a tailored made double play ground ball to second base that was mishandled and then flipped wide of the bag at second which allowed the lead runner from second to score on the play and tie the game up at 1-1.
The Cardinals took advantage of the two errors with a double to left center field two batters later to drive in two and take a 3-1 lead, before another Tech fielding error at third base kept the inning alive. Louisville followed with a single to third three pitches later to load the bases.
A pop fly in foul territory in front of the Cardinals’ dugout recorded out number two, however, the next batter drew a bases loaded walk to push the visitor’s lead out to three at 4-1 before Curry got a strikeout to end the inning.
The home team stranded one in the bottom half of the fourth inning before the Cardinals added to their lead in the fifth with a two-out bases loaded single by Mann followed by another single by Tyler Fitzgerald to extend the lead to six at 7-1.
The Jackets put a runner on in the seventh on a Peurifoy single and two on in the eighth on a Wilhite single and a Bart walk, yet couldn’t get that key hit to plate the base runners.
Meanwhile, Louisville scored one in the sixth on a solo home run and two more in the seventh on another two-out bases loaded two-run single to pull away for the 10-1 win.
The Jackets (16-17, 4-13 ACC) will wrap up the series versus No. 2 Louisville Cardinals (30-4, 14-3 ACC) tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. ET.
Tech Tidbits
* Georgia Tech has dropped six straight games, its longest losing streak of the season.
* Georgia Tech is 2-12 on the season when getting out hit by its opponent for the game.
* The Yellow Jackets have not hit a home run in six straight games, their longest drought of the season.
* Wade Bailey extended his on-base streak to five straight games with two walks on the night.
* Kel Johnson has now reached base safely in a season-high 13 straight contests with a single in second.
* Ryan Peurifoy’s three hit game was the second of the season for the senior outfielder (3-for-4 vs. Auburn on April 4).
For the latest information on the Georgia Tech baseball team, follow us on Twitter (@GTBaseball), Facebook, Instagram (@gt_baseball) or visit us at www.ramblinwreck.com.
