April 6, 2016
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THE FLATS – For the second straight night, Georgia Tech’s pitching staff carried the load as the 24th-ranked Yellow Jackets posted a 4-2 win over Kennesaw State.
With the win, Georgia Tech (22-7) completed the season series sweep of Kennesaw State (11-19). The Yellow Jackets are 6-0 vs. in-state rivals and improved to 20-0 when allowing five or fewer runs this season.
Making his first start of the season, southpaw Ben Parr (5-0) allowed two runs on three hits in 6.0 innings for his fifth victory of the season. Junior Zac Ryan earned his first save of the year.
THE BASICS
• Georgia Tech used its 25th different lineup of the 2016 season.
• Georgia Tech is now 6-0 vs. in-state rivals in 2016 and is 14-2 in its last 16 games vs. in-state foes.
• Georgia Tech is now 19-3 this season in games played in under three hours, including a 15-0 mark at Russ Chandler Stadium.
• Georgia Tech is 20-0 when allowing five or fewer runs this season.
• Tech is now 7-1 in midweek games this season and is 35-6 in its last 41 nonconference games.
• Tech is now 19-6 all-time vs. Kennesaw State, including a 13-3 mark at Russ Chandler Stadium.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• With a runner on, Kel Johnson crushed a two-out, two-run home run to dead center off the batter’s eye to give Georgia Tech a 2-0 lead in the 1st.
• Kennesaw State got a run back in the 2nd. Brennan Morgan led off with a double to left. After advancing to third on a groundout, Morgan came home after the umpire called a balk on Parr.
• The Owls would tie the game at 2-2 in the 6th. Grant Williams drilled a one-out triple down the right field line. Alex Liquori later plated Williams on an RBI groundout.
• Tech scored two runs in the 6th for the eventual 4-2 win. Johnson reached on a fielding error and later moved to second on a Trevor Craport sacrifice bunt. Brandt Stallings then gave Tech runners on the corners with a single to left. Arden Pabst plated the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly to center. Ryan Peurifoy then scored Stallings on an RBI double down the right field line.
• Georgia Tech relievers Burton Dulaney and Zac Ryan retired nine of the final 10 Owls batters to seal the win for the Yellow Jackets.
QUOTE BOARD
“Ben Parr was outstanding for us tonight in his first start. I thought Burton (Dulaney) and Zac (Ryan) did a nice job coming out of the bullpen. Kel Johnson’s home run in the 1st was key to get us on top. We couldn’t do much hitting after that, but his home run was big.” – Georgia Tech head coach Danny Hall on the Jackets’ 4-2 win
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• LHP Ben Parr made his first start of the season, going a season-best 6.0 innings to improve to 5-0. It was Parr’s first start since May 15, 2015, at Miami, and his first home start since May 9, 2015, vs. Pitt.
• Sophomore RF Kel Johnson hit his eighth home run of the season in the 1st inning. It is Johnson’s fifth home run in the last seven games.
• Johnson was responsible for three of Tech’s four runs Wednesday night.
• Freshman RHP Burton Dulaney pitched 2.0 innings of scoreless relief.
• Junior RHP Zac Ryan recorded his first save of the season.
• Georgia Tech turned its NCAA-leading 43rd double play of the season.
UP NEXT
The 24th-ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets hit the road for a pivotal ACC series at Pittsburgh. Friday’s game is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET on ESPN3 and WREK 91.1 FM. Saturday and Sunday games will begin at 12 p.m. on WREK 91.1 FM.
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