Georgia Tech has won its fourth straight ACC Series.
Georgia Tech scored nine points in Saturday's Game 2 win over Miami, and it went even higher than that in today's series finale against the Hurricanes. Combine this with Tate McKee's elite performance on the mound and you get today's results.
Georgia Tech has a tough schedule for the rest of the ACC, with series against Clemson, Duke, and Florida State still remaining, but they're playing their best baseball as the ACC Tournament approaches.
Let's take a look back at a fun afternoon in Atlanta.
Today's Georgia Tech lineup is as follows:
1. LF Trey Junger
2. CF Drew Burress
3. DH Matthew Ellis
4. 1B Cam Jones
5. 3B John Giesler
6.SS Peyton Green
7. RF Bobby Zmarzlak
8. 2B Mike Becketti
9. C. Van Lackey
Tate McKee was on the mound for the Yellow Jackets.
McKee was in a bit of a pinch in the top of the first inning, but found a way to get through without giving up any runs. After hitting the first batter, McKee struck out the next two batters, but then issued a walk and put runners on the corners. He got a big strikeout and took it home in the bottom of the first inning to end the inning.
Our offense was great yesterday and we're off to a great start today.
For Georgia Tech, Junger led off with a double, then Burress advanced to third base on a flyout. Ellis hit a sac fly and Georgia Tech took the lead with a run. Jones struck out and ended the inning, but the Yellow Jackets took an early lead going into the second inning.
McKee continued to deal with the second inning, getting a strikeout in the top of the second.
Giesler started the inning with a double and then advanced on a wild pitch. He then scored on a passed ball to make it 2-0. This was Georgia Tech's only run of the inning, and McKee returned to the mound for the third inning.
McKee allowed a leadoff home run to cut the score from 2-1, but struck out two more batters to get through the inning. McKee had eight strikeouts in his first three innings, and after Cam Jones' dominant day yesterday, McKee was putting together an equally impressive performance.
Georgia Tech's offense responded to Miami's huge lead and took the lead for good.
Junger hit a lead-off double in the first inning, and Burress hit a two-run home run to extend the lead to 4-1. But Georgia Tech's home run party was just beginning. Ellis hit a solo shot to make it 5-1, and after Jones grounded out, Giesler hit a solo home run to make it 6-1. Miami made a pitching change, but it didn't make any immediate changes. Green was hit by a pitch, Zmarzlak's single put runners on the corners, and Becketti hit an RBI single to make it 7-1. This was the last run of the inning, but it was huge for Georgia Tech to extend its lead to six points.
McKee didn't give up in the fourth inning, defeating Miami 1-2-3.
The Yellow Jackets offense then went back to work to put the game out of reach.
Miami walked Burress and Ellis in the first inning, then put them on second and third base on passed balls. Jones then took a fielder's choice, but Burress was home and out. But it didn't matter much, as Giesler stepped up to the plate and hit a three-run home run to make it 10-1.
However, they are not yet complete. Green singled, Zmartulak was hit by a pitch to put another runner on second base, and Becketti doubled to make it 11-1. After Lackey struck out, Junger hit a two-RBI single, increasing the lead to 13-1. It was a six-run inning for the Yellow Jackets, and the game just kept running away.
The top of the fifth was another easy inning for McKee. He struck out another batter, then got two groundouts and reached the bottom of the inning. He struck out nine and allowed only one hit, a solo home run.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Georgia Tech's offense quickly resumed.
Burress hit a leadoff double in the first inning, then Ellis walked, giving the Yellow Jackets a runner on second base. Jones flew out and Parker Brosius came in as a pinch runner for Burress. A defensive error allowed Brosius to score, allowing Giesler and Ellis to advance. At that time it was 14-1. Green walked to load the bases, and Zmarzlak hit an RBI homer to extend the lead to 15-1.
Georgia Tech returned to the bench and added two more runs, ending the game in the seventh inning. The Yellow Jackets went on to defeat Miami 17-1, securing their fourth straight victory in the ACC series.
Danny Hall's team is currently 27-15 and 11-10 in the ACC. They're building some serious momentum toward a potential NCAA Tournament appearance and are set to depart next Friday for a big ACC series against Clemson.
