ATLANTA (March 15) – Freshman right-hander Jeff Watchko threw seven shutout innings while striking out ten and walking none on Wednesday night, March 15, as No. 24 Georgia Tech defeated Liberty 6-1 at Russ Chandler Stadium.
Watchko, making his first career start, allowed just seven hits to the Flames (12-7), as the Jackets won their third straight game, improving their record to 12-6 on the season.
While Watchko (1-0) limited the Liberty offensive attack, Tech was led by freshman catcher Tyler Parker who tied a school record with three doubles in the game. Parker was 3-for-3 on the evening, while driving in a pair of runs.
The Jackets got on the board in the bottom of the fourth, as they built a 3-0 lead courtesy of a two-run double by Parker and an RBI single by center fielder Wes Rynders.
Tech doubled its lead in the sixth, as shortstop Victor Menocal belted a two-run home run and Jon Henry Kail added an RBI single to give the Jackets a 6-0 cushion.
The Flames’ only run came courtesy of a leadoff home run in the eighth by Joey Monahan off Tech reliever Brad Busbin. Busbin set the next three batters down in order, before Philip Perry pitched a scoreless ninth to close it out for Tech.
Starter Brian Adams (2-2) took the loss for Liberty, having allowed six runs, three of which were earned, in his 6-2/3 innings of work.
Georgia Tech returns to action on Friday evening in a 7 p.m. contest at home against No. 2 North Carolina (21-0), as the Jackets begin Atlantic Coast Conference play.
