Bobby Zmarzlak's Three-Run Home Run in the 8th Gives Georgia Tech Baseball a Series Win Over No. 13 NC State
After getting a win yesterday in their ACC opener, Georgia Tech was back on the field to face NC State and get the series win and move to 2-0 in ACC play.
The Yellow Jackets controlled most of the game and only let the Wolfpack score two runs in the final inning to make it closer, but it was a great way to start off conference play against the No. 13 team in the country.
Today was even better.
The Yellow Jackets trailed for much of the afternoon, but their offense woke up in time to get them a win. Drew Burress continued his fantastic start with another multi home run game and then Bobby Zmarzlak hit a three-run homer to give the Yellow Jackets the lead and the win.
The pitching was a little shaky today. Aeden Finateri started strong, but he and Michal Kovala gave up six earned runs combined. The bullpen pitched a shutout in the final two innings and kept Georgia Tech perfect in ACC play.
Let's recap a thrilling day for Georgia Tech Baseball.
Finateri got the start today and Georgia Tech used this lineup today:
1. LF Trey Yunger
2. CF Drew Burress
3. C Matthew Ellis
4. 2B Mike Becchetti
5. SS Payton Green
6. 1B Cam Jones
7. RF Parker Brosius
8. DH Bobby Zmarzlak
9. 3B Carson Kerce
Finateri allowed a single in the first, but no runs. After a 1-2-3 inning for the Yellow Jackets offense, Finateri was quickly back out for the second inning.
He struck out two batters in the second and then the Yellow Jackets offense got on the board for the first run of the game. Payton Green got a leadoff double and Cam Jones drove him in on an RBI single to make it 1-0.
NC State did not take long to tie things up though. Finateri gave up a leadoff home run in the top of the third inning and NC State was on the board. He only allowed the one run, but Georgia Tech no longer had a lead.
Georgia Tech's first two batters struck out quickly to start the bottom of third, but Georgia Tech's top freshman got up to the plate and blasted his 12th home run of the season and gave Georgia Tech the lead back.
The fourth inning is where the Wolfpack put together their first big inning of scoring.
Two singles and then hitting the next batter loaded the bases up. A bases loaded walk tied the game 2-2 and then Finateri was pulled from the game. Michal Kovala came in to try and limit the damage. Kovala allowed a pair of ground outs to bring in two runs and stretch the lead to 4-2 heading to the bottom of the inning.
Georgia Tech got two runners on with a walk and catcher's interference, but could not advance them. NC State still led 4-2 going to the fifth.
The Wolfpack came back out to score more runs, but they were assisted by errors from Georgia Tech. A fielding error gave NC State two more runs and the lead was now 6-2 going to the bottom of the inning.
The Yellow Jackets got one run back in the bottom of the fifth with a Carson Kerce leadoff home run to make it 6-3.
Both teams were limited to one hit each and zero runs in the 6th and NC State maintained their lead going to the 7th. Brett Barfield came in to pitch for Kovala during the 6th.
Bartfield got two quick outs to start the 7th, but a single and then an RBI-double gave NC State another run to make it 7-3.
Zmarzlak walked to start the inning, then Kerce struck out. Yunger then reached on a fielders choice, but Zmarzlak was out. Georgia Tech already had two outs and it looked like they were going to still trail by four going to the eighth.
Then the best freshman in the country blasted another home run to make it 7-5.
Burress kept Georgia Tech right in the hunt and continued his great season with another multi home run game.
It looked like Georgia Tech was going to get even more runs in the seventh.
Ellis walked and got to second on a wild pitch and then Becchetti walked to put two runners on base with two outs. Green popped up though to end the inning, but Georgia Tech only trailed 7-5 instead of 7-3.
Brett Thomas came in to pitch for Bartfield in the 8th and he got NC State to go down 1-2-3 and the Yellow Jackets were back to bat.
The Yellow Jackets got two quick base runners with Jones reaching on a fielder's error and then Brosius walking. Zmarzlak represented the go-ahead run at the plate and he sent the ball over the fence for a home run to give Georgia Tech a lead.
The big question was if the bullpen would keep the Wolfpack off the board in the 9th in and give Georgia Tech a series win over No. 13 NC State and their seventh straight win. It was a great comeback performance for the Yellow Jackets and they are now 2-0 in ACC play.
Georgia Tech is going for the sweep tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 p.m.