Yellow Jackets Lose In Dramatic Style To Their In-State Rivals

Raphael Haynes
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SunTrust Park- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (24-22) lose a close game to the Georgia Bulldogs (19-29 at SunTrust Park.

In the bottom of the second inning, Georgia Tech threatened when Austin Wilhite walked and Chase Murray singled to center. The Yellow Jackets couldn’t capitalize due to Brandt Stallings’ ground ball to third for a double-play to end the inning.

A. Wilhite went 1-3 with a single and walked twice. “I thought we played well. We hit some balls hard right at the fielders but overall we played well,” said A. Wilhite.

The Bulldogs responded in the top of the third with a sacrifice fly from Bradley Tucker which scored Adam Sasser from third base.

Georgia Tech’s starting pitcher Ben Schniedejans went 3.2 innings allowing an earned run with two hits, two strikeouts and one walk. He was relieved by Conner Thomas who made his debut of the season. “It was unreal to come out here [SunTrust Park] and pitch against Georgia,” said Thomas

The top of the fifth gave the Yellow Jackets trouble. Thomas allowed two singles and two runs which pushed the deficit 3-0.

Georgia Tech battled back with a walk by Kyle McCann. With two outs, Wade Bailey doubled to left advancing McCann to third to continue his hitting streak to eight games and his 18th game in a row of reaching on base safely. Trevor Craoport was hit by a pitch loading the bases. Ryan Peurifoy cleared the bases with a double to center field.

The onslaught continued after Kel Johnson doubled to right field scoring Craport to go up 4-3.

The Bulldogs responded once again. Keegan McGovern doubled to right field scoring Sasser. Pitcher Jared Datoc relieved Thomas in the middle of the sixth. McGovern was able to reach third after an infield hit. Then Datoc threw a wild pitch that scored McGovern. Then Maxwell reached on an error and scored on an unearned sacrifice bunt by Austin Biggar.

Photo courtesy of The 3 Point Conversion (David Evans)

Georgia stretched the lead even more in the seventh inning as McGovern doubled once again to drive home his second RBI. Datoc pitched 1.1 innings allowing three hits, two earned runs, a walk and a strikeout.

The Yellow Jackets bounced back in the bottom of the seventh inning. Peurifoy doubled to the left field corner, Johnson hit a hard grounder to second base which LJ Talley couldn’t handle and Peurifoy advanced to third. Coleman Poje singled in an RBI and pinch hitter Xzavion Curry hit a looper to shallow right that scored Johnson.

Peurifoy led Georgia Tech going 3-4 including two doubles, three RBI and two runs.

In the bottom of the eighth, McCann walked to start the inning. After a sacrifice bunt, by Bailey, Carport singled in McCann to tie up the game.

In the top of the ninth, after two outs, there was a controversial play where Mitchell Webb appeared to strikeout with a slight tip that seemed to fall in the catcher’s glove. The plate umpire called it foul and Yellow Jackets head coach Danny Hall got into a heated exchange with the umpire.

After the discussion, Webb singled and then McGovern singled to center as Georgia Tech relaxed while getting the ball back into the infield and Webb scored from first base. That was McGovern third hit and his third RBI going 3-5 with two doubles.

Georgia Tech started the ninth with back-to-back walks to A. Wilhite walked and Nick Wilhite after a ground out.. After an infield fly-rule that caused the second out and then McCann grounded out to first base to end the game.

Micah Carpenter pitched 2.0 innings and allowed two hits, one strike out and one run.

Raphael Haynes

Atlanta, GA

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