No. 4 Jackets World Series Bound

June 10, 2006

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ATLANTA – Left-handed pitcher Lee Hyde (6-0) threw 8.0 strong innings, scattering six hits, two earned runs and struck out eight, while first baseman Whit Robbins went 3-for-6, with a home run (13) and three runs batted in, to lead No. 4 Georgia Tech (50-16) past No. 11 College of Charleston (46-17), 12-3, in the NCAA Atlanta Super Regional on Saturday at Russ Chandler Stadium.

“In the game today, Lee Hyde struggled a little bit early but really settled in,” said Tech head coach Danny Hall. “We had a couple of big home runs with Whit Robbins that gave us the lead and [Jeff] Kindel’s to give us an even larger lead. Lee deserves a lot of credit for never really giving in. I’m very proud of him and the rest of the guys, and I’m just excited that we get a chance to go to Omaha.”

The Yellow Jackets win the best-of-three series, 2-0, and become the first team in the remaining tournament field to advance to the 2006 College World Series. It will be Tech’s third appearance ever in the CWS, also doing so in 1994 and 2002.

“I’m excited for our team, our fans, and the administration here at Georgia Tech,” said Hall. “We have a chance to go to Omaha and play for a national championship, thanks to some very special guys that we have on our team. We’ve been through a lot of battles and injuries, but day in and day out, they never stopped believing that they could play for the World Series.”

First baseman Luke Murton finished the game 3-for-5, with one walk and one RBI, while right fielder Wally Crancer went 2-for-3, with two runs scored and two walks, to pace the Jackets offensively. Designated hitter Wes Hodges and center fielder Steven Blackwood each drove in two runs for the Rambling Wreck.

Joey Friddle led the Cougars offensively, going 2-for-3, with a home run (3) and one RBI. Right fielder Larry Cobb and catcher Alex Garabedian added two hits for the College of Charleston.

Left-handed pitcher Jeff Beliveau (6-4) took the loss on the mound for C of C, going 3.2 innings, allowing six hits, three earned runs and struck out two.

The Cougars took the first lead of the game in the bottom of the first inning as Garabedian hit a sacrifice fly to left field as Tech trailed 1-0.

Hodges tied the game for the Yellow Jackets in the top of the second inning with a two-out double to left-center field to plate Robbins who singled to center field as the game was tied at 1-1.

C of C answered in the bottom half of the second inning as Friddle homered to left field to put the Cougars back on top, 2-1.

Robbins responded for the Jackets in the top of the fourth inning, blasting his 13th home run of the season over the right field fence to score two more runs and give Tech its first lead of the game, 3-2.

Tech exploded for five runs in the top of the fifth inning, highlighted by a two-run homer by left fielder Jeff Kindel, his 13th of the season, and a RBI single by Blackwood as the Jackets extended their lead to six, 8-2.

The Yellow Jackets added four runs in the top of the ninth inning as Blackwood, Murton and Robbins each drove in runs to give Tech a 12-2 lead.

Cobb drove in a run for the Cougars in the bottom of the eighth inning to bring the score to 12-3.

Right-handed pitcher Jared Hyatt entered the game for the Jackets in the bottom of the ninth inning and retired three of the five batters faced to send Tech to the College World Series.

NOTES: LHP Lee Hyde has allowed just four earned runs in 14.1 innings pitched in the NCAA Tournament … Tech has 10 home runs in five tourney games, by six different players … College of Charleston set a new single-season and SoCon record with 95 sacrifice bunts … Alex Garabedian ends season for the Cougars on a 12-game hitting streak … Chris Campbell ends season on a 10-game hitting streak … C of C sets new single-season school record with 522 strikeouts as a pitching staff.