Georgia Tech Crushes Youngstown State In Double-Header and Clinches Series Win
Georgia Tech started off slow in yesterday's series opener vs Youngstown State, but they scored 11 runs in the last two innings to run-rule the Penguins, who remain winless this season. The two teams met for a double-header today and the Yellow Jackets looked to add two more wins to its record.
Aeden Finateri got the start for Georgia Tech in the first game and here was the lineup for the Yellow Jackets:
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 Michael Graziano
9. 3B Carson Kerce
Youngstown State was the first team on the board today. Finateri allowed a one-out solo home run to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead, but he picked up two strikeouts to end the inning.
Georgia Tech's offense took a while to get going yesterday, but they started fast in game one today.
A leadoff walk and then a Burress double gave Georgia Tech runners at second and third with no outs. Ellis hit a sac fly to tie the game up and then Becchetti had a sacrifice hit to bring another runner in to take the lead 2-1 with two outs. After a single from Green, Jones hit an RBI single to make it 3-1 and then Brosius hit an RBI double to increase the lead to 4-1 in the first. It was a great start for the offense after a slow start yesterday.
It was an easy 1-2-3 inning for Finateri in the second, including another strikeout. Georgia Tech led 4-1.
The offense went right back to work in the second.
A pair of singles got two runners on base and after Burress flew out, Ellis walked to load the bases. A 2-RBI single from Becchetti increased the lead to 6-1 for Georgia Tech and they were in total control of the game going to the third.
Finateri kept rolling along in the third inning, striking out two more batters and not allowing a hit. The Yellow Jackets led 6-1 heading to the bottom of the third.
For the first time all game, Georgia Tech was not able to score a run in an inning. They managed just one hit, but the game remained 6-1 going to the 4th.
Youngstown made a big move in the top of the inning.
After a leadoff walk, Finateri got a double play and it looked like another easy inning for the Yellow Jackets pitcher. However, a pair of singles put two runners on and then Youngstown got their second home run of the game, this time a three-run homer to cut the lead to 6-4.
After allowing three runs in the top of the inning, Georgia Tech had a 1-2-3 inning and Youngstown had momentum going to the 5th.
Finateri bounced back, allowing only one hit and no runs. Georgia Tech led 6-4 going to the bottom of the inning and had a chance to extend the lead.
Payton Green did just that with a leadoff solo home run to make it 7-4. Jones was walked after that, then he stole second and it looked like Georgia Tech was in position to have another big inning.
It was indeed a big inning.
Georgia Tech scored nine runs in the bottom of the fifth and it was highlighted by Burress hitting a grand slam. It was his 10th home run of the season and another big highlight in what has been an unbelievable start for him.
Finateri's day was done after five innings. While he did allow two home runs and four total runs, he also struck out five batters. It was not his best start of the year, but he flashed his best stuff today. He was replaced by Brett Thomas in the 6th inning.
Georgia Tech would cruise the rest of the way, winning game one 16-6. They had a chance to win the series with game two getting underway shortly after.
Game Two
Tate McKee got the start for the Yellow Jackets in game two and here was the lineup:
1. LF Trey Yunger
2. CF Drew Burress
3. DH Matthew Ellis
4. 2B Mike Becchetti
5. SS Payton Green
6. 1B Cam Jones
7. RF Parker Brosius
8. C Tyler Minnick
9. 3B Carson Kerce
It was the first career start for McKee and he struck out two in the first inning, giving him a great start.
Georgia Tech went right to work in the bottom of the first. After getting runners on base, Green hit a 2-RBI double to give the Yellow Jackets an early 2-0 lead.
After two more strikeouts from McKee, the offense for the Yellow Jackets kept piling runs on.
Brosius had a leadoff double to get things going and then he stole third. An RBI single from Kerce gave Georgia Tech a 3-0 lead and then he advanced to third after a wild pitch and fly out. Kerce would then score on a throwing error that allowed Burress to reach and then he was driven in by Ellis and it was 5-0 heading to the third.
In his first career start, McKee kept rolling right along, striking out two more batters in the third and not allowing any runs.
After Green grounded out to start the bottom of the third, Jones blasted a home run to make it 6-0. Brosius then singled and stole another base. Kerce kept his great afternoon going with another RBI single to make it 7-0 and the Yellow Jackets were rolling right along into the 5th inning.
McKee struck out another in the top of the 4th and Georgia Tech led 7-0 heading to the bottom of the 4th.
The 4th inning was another big inning for the Yellow Jackets and it was turning into batting practice vs the Penguins.
Burress singled and then Ellis walked to give Georgia Tech two base runners with no outs. Youngstown did record two outs after and then Burress stole third to move him closer. After Jones walked to load the bases, Brosius was walked to make it 8-0. Minnick then came through with a big hit and it was 10-0 Georgia Tech.
McKee's day was done after four innings and Dawson Brown came in to replace him.
Georgia Tech would keep rolling and led 13-2 going into the seventh.
That is where they ran into their first bit of trouble in the day. Youngstown scored five runs in the inning and cut the lead to 13-7.
But Kerce and the Georgia Tech offense was not yet done.
They responded by scoring four more runs at the bottom of the inning and run ruling the Penguins and winning the second game of the day 17-7.
It was a really good day overall for the Yellow Jackets. The offense woke up and had two really good games and while they did allow five runs in the seventh inning of the second game, it was a good day for the pitchers as well. Georgia Tech is the far better team and they played like it today.
The series wraps up tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. in Atlanta and the Yellow Jackets will go for the sweep.