April 15, 2010
ATHENS, Ga. – Tony Plagman and Jeff Rowland each went 4-for-5 to lead 14 different players with a hit, while the Georgia Tech baseball team (28-7) recorded its largest-ever victory over rival Georgia (11-22) with a 25-6 win Wednesday night at Foley Field. With the win, the Yellow Jackets clinched the three-game series between the two.
The 25 runs also tie the most ever recorded by one team in the 112-year old rivalry. It is the most scored by Tech this season. Tech’s previous largest margin of victory over the Bulldogs came in 1998, a 21-4 win at Russ Chandler Stadium.
“One of our goals tonight was to win the series,” head coach Danny Hall said. “I think we played well and really swung the bats well, and it was a nice victory for us.”
Tech had a season-high 25 hits on the night, 12 that went for extra-base hits. The team recorded three triples, which tie the school record.
“Coming off a tough loss to Virginia Sunday, we wanted to start the week on a good note,” Hall added. “To see these guys swing the bat well, that was encouraging. It was great to have Coach [Bryan] Prince back, and I know our players were glad to have him back also.”
Two of Plagman’s four hits came as a double and a home run, as he drove in three runs. The senior from Alpharetta, Ga. hit his 13th homer of the season, and 47th of his career.
“We worked a lot on our approach coming into this game, and I think it really paid off,” senior first baseman Tony Plagman said. “We went out there tonight and made sure we didn’t swing at pitches outside of the strike zone, and really saw the ball well. It’s always nice for everyone to get at-bats against Georgia, so it was great to see everyone contributing out there.”
Two Tech players had career games Wednesday. Rowland’s four hits were his most ever, while sophomore Matt Skole had a career-high five RBI. Skole hit his 11th homer of the season in the sixth inning, a grand slam that went deep over the fence in centerfield. The Jackets hit four home runs on the night, and now have 74 on the season.
Sophomore Mark Pope recorded the win on the mound, as he improved to 5-0 on the season. Pope scattered five runs over 6.0 innings while striking out six.
Georgia right-hander Eric Swegeman (0-3) lost for the third time this season, and was one of 10 pitchers used by the Bulldogs. Swegeman allowed two runs on two hits in 2.0 innings.
Tech stormed out to a 6-0 lead in the third inning after scoring four runs in the frame. Plagman started the scoring in the inning with his home run to center field, before Skole, Chase Burnette and Jacob Esch brought in runs with RBI hits.
Plagman is now 10 homers shy of tying the all-time school record of 57 held by former catcher Jason Varitek.
Georgia’s Zach Cone cut the lead to 6-4 in the bottom half of the inning, with a two-run homer to left field.
Two runs, however, were as close as Georgia would come as Tech erupted for seven runs in the fourth to extend its lead to 13-4. Dietrich and Plagman brought in runs with back to back doubles, before Tech scored five more on two wild pitches and three walks – all with the bases loaded.
Tech closed the scoring with six runs in the eighth, highlighted by home runs from sophomore Connor Winn and junior Jeff Ussery.
The Jackets continue Atlantic Coast Conference play this weekend, with a three-game weekend series against No. 16 Clemson at Russ Chandler Stadium. First pitch is at 7 p.m. Friday.
