March 31, 2010
KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State rallied for five runs in the seventh inning, and the second-ranked Georgia Tech baseball team was held to just three hits in a 7-4 loss Wednesday night at Stillwell Stadium.
The loss snaps Tech’s eight-game win streak, as the Jackets fall to 22-3 on the season. It was the first time Tech lost to an in-state opponent all season.
Tech managed just three hits on the evening, tying a season-low. Junior Derek Dietrich led the Jackets at the plate with three RBI, including a two-run homer to centerfield in the top of the first.
Three of Tech’s four top hitters entering the game, Cole Leonida (.407), Matt Skole (.387) and Tony Plagman (.348), went a combined 0-for-13 on the evening.
Kennesaw State reliever Kelly Holt picked up the win in relief, allowing just one run while keeping Tech hit-less in 1.2 innings pitched. He struck out two.
Tech broke a 2-2 tie in the seventh inning, after freshman Brandon Thomas hit a grounder to short that Kennesaw’s Tyler Stubblefield couldn’t keep a glove on, scoring Jacob Esch from second.
Kennesaw State would make its rally in the fifth however, scoring five runs on three hits and one costly error by Tech.
With the bases-loaded and not outs, pinch-hitter Jordan Kraft hit a single to shortstop off sophomore Jake Davies that scored a runner from third. On the ensuing at-bat, Stubblefield hit a grounder to third that Thomas Nichols threw to Skole for the force at the plate. Skole tried to turn the double play at first, but his throw sailed over Plagman’s head and into the outfield to score two runners.
The Owls added two more in the inning, one on a suicide squeeze with a runner on third, and another on the single to left field for a 7-3 lead.
Freshman right-hander Buck Farmer was credited with the loss, and fell to 2-1 on the season after pitching 3.0 innings in relief of starter Luke Bard. Farmer struck out a career-high five batters, but hit a batter, and issued back-to-back walks to load the bases in the seventh before he was pulled.
Tech would get one back as Dietrich was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and one out in the ninth, but Kennesaw State closer B.J. Johnson would strike out Plagman and Cole Leonida to end the game and seal the win. The Jackets return to action this weekend, as they host Duke for a three-game series at Russ Chandler Stadium. First pitch is at 7 p.m. Friday, 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
