March 11, 2006
ATLANTA – Mike Trapani’s two-out eighth-inning RBI single capped a four-run comeback and lifted top-ranked Georgia Tech (16-0, 2-0 ACC) to a 7-6 win over Virginia (14-4, 0-2) on Saturday afternoon at Russ Chandler Stadium.
The Yellow Jackets extended the nation’s longest winning streak to 16 games. Tech’s 16-0 start ties for the second best in school history, trailing only a 17-0 start in 2003.
Georgia Tech improved to 28-1 in its last 29 home conference games.
Trailing 6-3, Georgia Tech rallied to tie the score at 6-6 in the bottom of the seventh inning on a three-run homer from Wes Hodges. Mike Trapani and Michael Fisher led off the inning with back-to-back singles before Hodges belted his second home run of the year off Virginia reliever Casey Lambert.
The Yellow Jackets completed the comeback in the eighth inning. Whit Robbins led off the inning with a double down the left field line, and he took third base when left fielder Brandon Guyer misplayed the ball. Lambert nearly worked out of the jam when he retired the next two batters on a ground ball right at the third baseman and a strikeout, but Trapani delivered a two-out single to right field to bring home the go-ahead run.
“I was sitting on a curveball, and he threw me a curveball,” said Trapani on his game0winning hit. “Wes Hodges’ three-run homer is what got us going. I have to give credit to Michael Fisher. He played unbelievable defense all day.”
Tim Gustafson (1-0) earned the win in relief, working 1.1 scoreless innings to close out the game. Tech’s bullpen of Gustafson, David Duncan and Jared Hyatt combined to allow just one run in 4.1 innings.
Lambert (0-1) took the loss, allowing two runs on three hits in two innings.
Trapani finished 2-for-4, and Jeff Kindel added two hits.
Virginia’s Jeremy Farrell went 3-for-3 with a a home run, two singles and three RBI.
Georgia Tech jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a RBI single from Kindel and a sacrifice fly from Luke Murton. Virginia answered in the second inning when Farrell hit a two-run homer, his first of the year, to tie the game at 2-2.
A solo home run from David Adams, his team-leading third of the year, gave the Cavaliers a 3-2 lead in the third inning.
Virginia added two runs in the fifth inning to extend the lead to 5-2. After the first two batters were quickly retired, Adams drew a walk and Brandon Guyer followed with a single. Farrell delivered a RBI single and Guyer scored on a wild pitch.
Tech rallied in the sixth inning to close within 5-3, but did not capitalize on an opportunity to score more runs. Jeff Kindel had a one-out single, and walks to Matt Wieters and Whit Robbins loaded the bases and chased Thompson from the game. Kindel scored on a wild pitch, but Virginia reliever Michael Schwimer worked out of the jam by getting a strikeout and a fly out to end the inning.
The Cavs answered with a run in the top of the seventh to make the score 6-3. A leadoff walk to Sean Doolittle, a double from Brandon Guyer and an intentional walk to Farrell loaded the bases with one out, and Tom Hagan followed with a RBI groundout.
Tech starter Lee Hyde did not figure in the decision after working 4.2 innings and allowing five runs on eight hits.
Virginia starter Jacob Thompson pitched well but did not figure in the decision. After surrendering two runs on two hits in the first, Thompson settled down to retire 15 straight batters. He worked 5.1 innings and held the Yellow Jackets to three runs on three hits.
Georgia Tech and Virginia will conclude the three-game series on Sunday at 1 p.m.
