ATLANTA (Feb. 19) — Junior left-hander Cory Vance earned his second win of the season on Saturday afternoon by allowing just one unearned run and five hits over eight innings of work as No. 8 Georgia Tech defeated Oakland 9-1 at Russ Chandler Stadium.
Vance (2-0) struck out 13, one off a career high, including the first four batters of the game and did not walk a batter in the contest.
Tech struck early against Golden Grizzlies’ starter Sean Boesch (0-1) as the first four Jackets reached base safely, and plated two on a double by sophomore third baseman Mark Teixeira.
The Jackets got on the board again in the fourth, scoring two on a pair of RBI singles by first baseman Tyler Parker and right fielder Brad Stockton, to open the lead to 4-0.
As Vance continued to shut Oakland down, Tech built its lead to 7-0 in the seventh keyed by a two-run triple by Wes Rynders.
Oakland’s only run came in the eighth courtesy of a throwing error by Teixeira, a single by designated hitter Peter Varon, and a sacrifice fly by Casey Caid.
Tech scored twice in the bottom of the eighth on a single by Bryan Prince and a sacrifice fly by Derik Goffena, before freshman right-hander Ronnie Robinson came in and set down the Golden Grizzlies in order in the ninth.
The two teams continue their three-game set tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 p.m. at Russ Chandler Stadium, and conclude the series with a 4 p.m. contest on Monday.
