May 8, 2010
ATLANTA – Cole Leonida and Thomas Nichols drove in three runs apiece, and right-hander Brandon Cumpton picked up his seventh win of the season as Georgia Tech clinched the series with an 11-5 win over Illinois-Chicago Saturday night at Russ Chandler Stadium.
With the win, the Jackets improved to 38-9 overall and matched their win total from 2009. Tech has had at least 38 wins in a season in 16 of head coach Danny Hall’s 17 years on the Flats. The Flames fell to 17-25 with the loss.
“We scored in most of the innings tonight, and that is a good sign,” head coach Danny Hall said. “It means that we are going in there and competing and battling at the plate, and that is what you want to see. Every inning you want to try to score.”
Cumpton (7-2) recorded the win on the mound Saturday, giving the Jackets three seven game winners on the season. The Evans, Ga. native pitched 5.0 innings, allowing just two runs on three hits while striking out four.
Leonida had three hits on the day to go with his three RBI, one coming on a double off the wall in right field off of UIC starter Tim Suminski in the first inning.
The Jackets struck for four runs on four hits in the first frame, including two on a single through the left side by Nichols.
Suminski (3-4) drew the loss after allowing nine runs on 11 hits in 5.2 innings.
Tech extended its lead to 5-2 in the third inning on a solo home run to centerfield by sophomore Matt Skole. It was Skole’s 15th home run of the season, tying senior Tony Plagman for the team lead.
Playing in just his second game since injuring his wrist on March 21, senior Jay Dantzler ripped a solo shot to left field in the fourth to add another run for Tech. It was his sixth dinger on the year.
“It feels so good to be back out there,” Dantzler said. “I have been waiting for six weeks. Finally the time has come, and it feels right again. I have a little extra pep in my step, and it can carry over to some of these other guys that have been grinding it out for the past few weeks and I have been able to stay rested.”
UIC cut the lead in half at 8-4 with two runs in the sixth frame, but Leonida responded with his third RBI of the game in the bottom half before the Jackets brought home two more in the seventh on an a fielding error by the Flames’ first baseman.
The series concludes at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Russ Chandler Stadium. Live audio is available WREK 91.1 FM or online at RamblinWreck.com.
