ATLANTA (Apr. 14) — Georgia Tech’s Cory Vance tossed eight strong innings and third baseman Mark Teixeira and right fielder Brad Stockton each went 2-for-3 to lead the eighth-ranked Yellow Jackets to an 8-4 win over visiting Virginia on Friday night at Russ Chandler Stadium.
The victory extended Tech’s winning streak to a season-long eleven games, and the Jackets (29-8, 11-2 ACC) continued their hold on first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings. The Cavaliers (17-20-1, 5-8 ACC) lost for the 16th consecutive time in Atlanta.
Vance (8-1) picked up his sixth consecutive victory in as many starts after allowing just one earned run in eight innings. The southpaw allowed seven hits and walked one batter while registering seven strikeouts.
Tech took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Richard Lewis led off the game with a walk and came around to score on a triple from Teixeira that extended his hitting streak to 15 games. A RBI-single from Derik Goffena plated Teixeira.
The Cavaliers tied the score with single runs in the second and third innings with RBI groundout from Michael Floyd and a solo home run from Jon Benik. The Yellow Jackets responded with two runs in the bottom of the third on RBI singles from Bryan Prince and Jason Basil.
Tech extended its lead to 6-2 with two more runs in the fourth inning. Tyler Parker reached on an error and came around to score on a RBI double from Stockton. Lewis, who extended his hitting streak to 27 games, singled to drive in Stockton.
The Jackets added insurance runs in the fifth and seventh innings on a sacrifice fly from Wes Rynders and a run-scoring single from Victor Menocal.
Virginia’s Floyd blasted a two-run homer, his first of the season, to provide the final scoring in the ninth inning. Floyd went 2-for-4 and drove in three runs in the game.
The Cavs’ Brandon Creswell (2-7) took the loss after allowing seven runs in 4.1 innings.
Georgia Tech and Virginia will continue the three-game series on Saturday at 7 p.m. and on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Russ Chandler Stadium.
