Georgia Tech Baseball Falls to Georgia 3-1 In Athens
After not being able to finish their game last night, Georgia Tech and Georgia went to battle again.
Georgia was starting to pull away from the Yellow Jackets last night before the game got suspended. The pitching got off to a rocky start and was reminiscent of last season more than the improved Georgia Tech pitching of the first eight games.
Georgia Tech was sending Aeden Finateri to the mound today to face the formidable Georgia lineup. Here is how the Yellow Jackets lined up today:
1. CF Drew Burress
2. 1B Cam Jones
3. SS Payton Green
4. C Matthew Ellis
5. 2B Mike Becchetti
6. DH Bobby Zmarzlak
7. LF Trey Yunger
8. 3B Ryan Jaros
9. RF Parker Brosius
The Yellow Jackets got a single from Jones, who advanced to second on a wild pitch, but Green grounded into a double play to end the top of the first inning.
It was a similarly easy inning for Finateri against the Bulldogs. He allowed one hit, but that was it. The game remained 0-0 heading to the second inning.
Georgia Tech had an opportunity in the second inning. They got two runners on base due to two walks, but the next two batters struck out and they left both runners on. It was a missed opportunity to take an early lead for the Yellow Jackets.
The Bulldogs had a similar start to the bottom of the second. A single and then a walk gave them two base runners with no outs. The next batter flew out, but one runner advanced to third, giving them runners on the corners with one out. Unlike Georgia Tech though, Georgia was able to take advantage of having runners on base. They had a batter ground out, but was able to drive a run in to make it 1-0 with two outs. Finateri bounced back and struck out the last batter, but Georgia got a run on board for the lead heading into the third.
The third inning is where Georgia Tech got on the board when Brosius hit a leadoff home run to tie the game. After Brosius tied the game, Burress struck out, but Jones got on base with another walk. Georgia switched pitchers after the walk and it felt like the Yellow Jackets had momentum. Green struck out looking, but Jones stole second base, giving them a runner in scoring position with two outs. Georgia Tech could not get another run and went to the bottom of the third tied 1-1.
Finateri had an easy 1-2-3 inning and Georgia Tech went back to work at the top of the fourth.
After Georgia Tech went down in order at the top of the inning, Finateri allowed a leadoff walk in the bottom of the inning but got the next batter to ground into a double play. Finateri eased through the rest of the inning and it was 1-1 going to the 5th.
Burress got his first hit of the game in the 5th inning when he tripled, but the Yellow Jackets still could not drive a runner in scoring position, falling to 0-5.
In the bottom of the 5th, Finateri hit the first batter but then got three quick outs thanks to a pop-up and a double play. Both offenses were struggling to sustain anything and the game went to the 6th inning tied 1-1.
A leadoff walk was all Georgia Tech was able to get in the 6th inning. Finateri was coming back out for the 6th inning with his pitch count at 67.
Tre Phelps got a two-out double for Georgia, but nothing came from that either. The pitching in this game was a step up for both programs through the first six innings and neither offense could sustain anything.
Yunger got a single for Georgia Tech in the top of the 7th and then after two outs, Burress was walked. Georgia Tech had another opportunity with two runners on base, but there were two outs. The Bulldogs made a pitching change to try and stop the Yellow Jackets. Despite having two runners on, Georgia Tech grounded out and the game went to the bottom of the 7th.
That was when Finateri's day was done. He pitched six innings, struck out three batters, and only gave up four hits. He was able to go deep into the game, giving way to Tate McKee in the 7th. Demetri Diamant came in to play third base in place of Kerce.
After striking out the first batter, McKee gave up a solo home run that gave Georgia a 2-1 lead. Given how Georgia Tech's offense was struggling to produce any runs, it felt like that might be all the Bulldogs needed. It was the only run McKee would give up that inning, but Georgia got another one in the 8th inning.
Despite getting two runners on in the 9th, Georgia Tech could not get them and that was the theme for the day. The offense could not do anything with runners on base and the Bulldogs got just enough done to get the 3-1 win.
Tomorrow's game will be played at Coolray Field at 3:00 p.m.