Feb. 17, 2006
ATLANTA – Whit Robbins drove in two runs and Blake Wood pitched six strong innings to lead third-ranked Georgia Tech (4-0) to a 3-2 win over Kennesaw State (1-2) in the opener of a three-game series on Friday at Russ Chandler Stadium.
Wood (2-0) won his second straight start and improved to 12-1 over the last two seasons. He allowed one unearned run on six hits and one walk while striking out six.
Brad Rulon worked two scoreless innings in relief, and Matt Wieters pitched the ninth inning to record his first save of the year.
Robbins had just one hit in the game, but his two RBI raised his season total to a team-high 14 RBI in four games. Wes Hodges went 2-for-2.
The Owls took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Adam Cross singled and scored on a sacrifice fly from Ray Reddin.
The Yellow Jackets quickly answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 2-1 lead. Wes Hodges was hit by a pitch and scored when Jeff Kindel’s double was mishandled by Cross in right field. Robbins followed with a RBI single that scored Kindel.
Georgia Tech extended the lead to 3-1 in the third inning when a bases-loaded RBI goundout from Robbins scored Matt Wieters.
From there, the game settled into a pitcher’s duel. The Owls managed to get just two runners into scoring position from the third through eighth innings. The Yellow Jackets had just three hits in their final five innings.
Trailing 3-1, the Owls rallied in the ninth inning. Pinch hitter Zachary Upton led off the inning with a single and scored on a two-out RBI double from Matt Dallas to cut the lead to 3-2. But Wieters retired Jay Morrow on a pop up to end the game.
Kennesaw State starter Bubba Blalock (1-1) took the loss after allowing three runs, two of which were earned, on four hits in 4.2 innings. He issued two walks and struck out six. Reliever Dan Dale worked 3.2 scoreless innings, and the two pitchers combined to hold the Yellow Jackets to a season-low three runs and six hits.
Dallas led the Owls with three hits, while Martin Baker had two hits. Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State will continue the three-game series on Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. each day.
