DURHAM, N.C. (April 8) – Third-ranked Georgia Tech pounded out 16 hits off of seven Duke pitchers on April 8 as the Jackets defeated the Blue Devils, 13-3, in Durham.
Tech (26-8, 8-4 ACC) captured the rubber game of the series, having taken two of three from Duke over the weekend.
The Blue Devils (17-20, 5-6 ACC) jumped on the board first, scoring three unearned runs in the bottom of the first after two men were out in the inning. After an error by Tech third baseman Brian Jackson prolonged the inning, an RBI double by Larry Broadway and two-run single by Drew Jerdan gave Duke a 3-0 lead.
Tech answered back with four in the top of the fourth, with runs scoring by Jason Basil drawing a bases loaded walk, an RBI single by Brad Stockton, a run-scoring fielder’s choice hit into by Brian Jackson and a sacrifice fly by Wes Rynders.
The Jackets blew the game open in the sixth, plating four runs to increase their lead to 8-3. A pair of RBI singles by Victor Menocal and Bryan Prince were followed by a two-run double by Jason Perry.
The Tech lead increased to 11-3 in the seventh, as two runs scored on a throwing error by Duke second baseman Scott Grossi, and a third run scored on a sacrifice fly by Menocal.
Freshman designated hitter Matt Murton led off the top of the eighth with a solo home run to up the Jackets’ lead to 12-3, while Brian Jackson added an RBI single later in the inning to make the score 13-3.
Tech starter Kevin Cameron (5-1) went six innings, allowing just three unearned runs in the first, and scattering six hits. Matt Lorenzo, Andy Mitchell and Jeff Watchko closed it out for the Jackets over the final three frames.
Duke starting pitcher Ryan Caradonna (5-7) took the loss for the Blue Devils, having allowed four runs and seven hits over 4.2 innings of work.
Georgia Tech will return to action against Georgia Southern on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at Russ Chandler Stadium. The game wil be televised regionally on Fox Sports Net South.
