March 15, 2008
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Matt Fairel held the Yellow Jackets to one run while scattering four hits over eight innings to lead No. 3 Florida State (15-1, 5-0 ACC) to an 11-2 win over No. 11 Georgia Tech (13-3, 3-2 ACC) Saturday night at Dick Howser Stadium.
Fairel (4-0) faced the minimum through the first 3.2 innings and allowed just four runners past first base in the game. He had career-highs in innings pitched and strikeouts (9).
Mike McGee led the Seminoles’ offense with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate. He also drove in two runs and scored another against the Yellow Jackets.
Luke Murton drove in both of Georgia Tech’s runs on the night.
Tony Delmonico was hit by a pitch to lead off the second inning and Dennis Guinn followed with a walk to put runners on first and second for McGee, who doubled over the glove of first baseman Tony Plagman to put the Seminoles up 2-0.
The Jackets narrowed Florida State’s lead to one run with Derek Dietrich doubled to lead off the fifth inning, moved to third on a fly out by Jason Haniger, and scored on an RBI single by Murton. Fairel then struck out the next two batters to end the Jackets’ threat.
The Seminoles struck for four runs in the bottom of the frame to push their lead to 6-1 after McGee and Stuart Tapley reached on back-to-back singles to lead off the inning. McGee came around to score on a throwing error by Dietrich, which also allowed Tapley to move to third and Tyler Holt, the batter, to advance to second. Jason Stidham then plated Tapley with an RBI groundout before Buster Posey and Delmonico added RBI hits to cap the `Noles scoring in the inning.
Eddie Burns (2-1) suffered his first loss of the season by giving up six runs, only three of which were earned, on five hits in five innings of work. He also struck out five, walked two, and hit two batters.
Deck McGuire and Taylor Wood each worked scoreless innings in relief of Burns before the Seminoles scored five runs in the bottom of the eighth off reliever Michael Hutts. The inning was highlighted by a two-run single from Tyler Holt and a three-run home run by Stidham.
Brad Feltes led off the ninth inning with a single off reliever Ryan Vigue, moved to second on a single by Dietrich, advanced to third on a fielders choice and scored on a sacrifice fly by Murton.
The Jackets and Seminoles will conclude the series Sunday with a 1 p.m. first pitch. The game can be found on ACC Select (gatech.playonsports.tv) and WREK Radio, while live stats can be found at Ramblinwreck.com.
