March 13, 2005
ATLANTA – Eighth-ranked Georgia Tech (16-2, 6-0 ACC) established a new Atlantic Coast Conference record with its 22nd consecutive league win and Danny Hall won his 500th game at the school in the Yellow Jackets’ 16-5 win over Wake Forest (9-10, 3-3) on Sunday afternoon at Russ Chandler Stadium.
Tech’s 22-straight league wins established a new ACC record, passing the previous mark of 21 wins held by Clemson (1987-88) and North Carolina (1963-65).
Hall improved his record in 12 years at Georgia Tech to 500-213. He ranks as the school’s all time-leader in winning percentage (.701), and with five more wins he will become the winningest coach in Tech history.
Tech continued its offensive tear, scoring 15 or more runs for the sixth straight game. The Yellow Jackets, who scored in double figures for the eighth consecutive game, have scored 121 runs in their last eight games.
Tyler Greene hit his second grand slam of the series and drove in five runs. Steven Blackwood and Michael Fisher each drove in three runs, and all nine Tech starters had at least one hit. Whit Robbins went 3-for-4, and Blackwood, Fisher and Danny Payne added two hits apiece.
Tech starter Blake Wood (4-0) shook off a rough start to earn the victory, allowing five runs, three of which were earned, in 6.2 innings. After surrendering four runs in the first inning, Wood allowed one run over the next 5.2 innings. Matt Wieters worked 2.1 scoreless innings to close out the game.
Wake Forest batted around in the first to jump to the early 4-0 lead. Brendan Enick and Casey Sterk each had two-run singles in the inning.
Tech answered with a nine-run second inning, sending 15 batters to the plate as 11 consecutive Yellow Jackets reached base. Michael Fisher drove in two runs with a single and Tyler Greene forced in a run with a bases loaded walk before Steven Blackwood cleared the bases with a three-run double. Wes Hodges added a RBI single and Jeff Kindel hit a two-run homer, his second of the year.
The Yellow Jackets added three insurance runs in the sixth, including RBI singles from Fisher and Andy Hawranick, to extend the lead to 12-4.
After Wake Forest cut the lead to 12-5, Greene hit a grand slam, his fourth home run of the year, in the eighth to provide the final 16-5 margin.
Wake Forest starter Matt Hammond (1-4) took the loss, allowing nine runs in 1.1 innings.
Georgia Tech takes the week off before hosting NC State for a three-game ACC series next weekend at Russ Chandler Stadium.
