June 10, 2005
NCAA Atlanta Super Regional
#9 Tennessee 3, #5 Georgia Tech 2
UT leads the best-of-three series 1-0
ATLANTA – Rob Fitzgerald hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning and Sean Watson (7-3) threw two scoreless innings to lead No. 9 Tennessee (45-19) to a come-from-behind victory over No. 5 Georgia Tech (45-18), 3-2, in game one of a best-of-three series in the NCAA Atlanta Super Regional on Friday at Russ Chandler Stadium.
The Volunteers’ right-handed starter Luke Hochevar (15-2) and Tech’s right-handed starter Blake Wood (10-1) each threw seven innings in no decisions. Hochevar struck out 11, allowing five hits, two runs and one earned run, while Wood gave up just one hit, one run, no earned runs and struck out three.
Freshman right-handed hurler Matt Wieters (3-3) took the loss for the Yellow Jackets, throwing two innings, allowing three hits and two earned runs. Five different Yellow Jackets and four different Volunteers had hits in the game.
The Volunteers scored an unearned run with two outs in the top of the first inning on a strikeout that got away from Tech catcher Andy Hawranick and was thrown in to right field to allow UT’s Eli Iorg to score.
Junior Jeremy Slayden singled up the middle with two outs and advanced to second base on freshman Matt Wieter’s walk in the bottom of the fourth inning. Sophomore Wes Hodges then hit a ground ball to the shortstop, which looked like the third out of the inning, but the Tennessee second baseman dropped the throw at second and allowed the inning to continue. Slayden then scored on a passed ball to even the score at 1-1.
Hodges singled up the middle and junior Steven Blackwood doubled to right-center field in the bottom of the sixth inning to put Jackets at second and third with two outs. Hodges then scored the go ahead run for the Jackets on a balk by the Vols’ Hochevar to give Tech its first lead, 2-1.
The Volunteers responded with a rally in the top of the ninth inning on a two-run home run by Fitzgerald with one out and held off the Jackets in the bottom half of the inning for a 3-2 victory.
The Yellow Jackets and Vols will play game two of the best-of-three series on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Russ Chandler Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
LINE SCORE R-H-EUT 1-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-2 3-4-1GT 0-0-0-1-0-1-0-0-0 2-5-3
GAME NOTES: GT’s Blake Wood has thrown 16 innings in the post-season, and has allowed two earned runs on seven hits.
