Georgia Tech Scores 11 Runs In Final Two Innings to Pull Away From Youngstown State in Game One
Georgia Tech was back on the field today looking to snap a three-game losing streak in their series-opening game vs Youngstown State.
The Yellow Jackets were shut out at home 7-0 vs Northeastern on Wednesday and that was on the heels of losing two games vs Georgia. It was an all-around bad performance and one they were hoping to leave in the rearview starting today against a team that entered today's game with a 0-10 record.
Camron Hill took the mound today and there were some lineup changes 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 Bobby Zmarzlak
9. 3B Demitri Diamant
After an early strikeout, Hill found himself in some early trouble.
A double and then a walk put two runners on base with just one out. After the way Wednesday's game started, Georgia Tech needed some early positive momentum in this game.
Hill found his way out of the jam. He struck the next batter out and then the last one grounded out. It was a 0-0 game headed to the bottom of the 1st.
The Yellow Jackets went 1-2-3 in the first inning and did not record a hit. Hill was quickly back out there for the second inning.
Youngstown State started off with a leadoff single and then Hill quickly got the next two outs and looked like he was headed for another shoutout inning. However, a single turned into an extra-base hit, and then Youngstown got a two-out RBI single to give them the first run of the game and make it 1-0.
That was not it though. Another RBI single made it 2-0 and Georgia Tech was in an early hole. Hill got the last out, but with the Georgia Tech offense having trouble scoring over the last 10+ innings, it was not what you wanted to see.
After a strikeout from Becchetti to start the inning, Georgia Tech's offense got on base. A walk from Green and then a double from Cam Jones put two runners in scoring position for the Yellow Jackets.
Georgia Tech stranded the runners though. Brosius struck out and then Zmarzlak grounded out. Youngstown State led 2-0 headed to the third inning.
Hill got the first out but hit the next batter then allowed a hit. Youngstown again had two runners on, this time at second and third, with one out. Hill stepped up and answered the call though and struck out the last two batters. It was still 2-0 headed to the bottom of the third.
Diamant singled to start the inning for the Yellow Jackets and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. A walk from Yunger put two runners on and Burress advanced the two runners to second and third. Ellis then drove in the first run of the game for Georgia Tech on a ground out and Yunger advanced to third. The Yellow Jackets had cut the lead to 2-1 and that was the score heading to the fourth after a strikeout from Becchetti.
After allowing two base runners and another run, Hill's afternoon was over. Mason Patel came in to try and keep the score 3-1 and he struck out the last batter to send the game to the bottom of the fourth inning.
It was another 1-2-3 inning for the Yellow Jackets offense and the game went to the fifth with Youngstown leading 3-1.
Patel hit the leadoff batter and then a sac bunt advanced the runner to second. A single put runners on the corners with one out. Then, Georgia Tech got a double play, but not before the runner scored, making it a 4-1 game.
Georgia Tech got a single from Yunger in the bottom of the fifth, but nothing else. It remained 4-1 heading to the sixth.
It was a good sixth inning for Patel. He allowed only a walk and picked up two strikeouts. He kept Youngstown State off the board in the inning and Georgia Tech still only trailed by three going to the bottom of the inning.
Georgia Tech finally added another run to start the sixth with a leadoff home run from Ellis to cut the lead to 4-2. After Becchetti grounded out, Green doubled and that led to Jones hitting an RBI single to make it a one-run game 4-3.
After a pitching change for Youngstown State, Brosius tied the game up with an RBI single with one out. After only one run in five innings, Georgia Tech scored three in the sixth to tie the game at 4-4. Zmarzlak grounded into a double play to end the inning.
It did not stay tied for long though. Youngstown got a leadoff double and then scored another run off an RBI single. Patel limited it to one run, but Georgia Tech went to the bottom of the 7th trailing 5-4.
Diamant got a leadoff walk and Yunger singled to give Georgia Tech two base runners with no outs. After Burress grounded out, Youngstown intentionally walked Ellis to load the bases with no outs. A wild pitch would score Diamant and tie the game 5-5 while keeping the bases loaded.
A 2-RBI double from Becchetti gave Georgia Tech the lead. The bases would be loaded again after a wild pitch advanced Becchetti to third and two more walks. It was an opportunity for Georgia Tech to take a firm lead and put Youngstown State away.
Brosius added to the lead with a 2-RBI single that made it 9-5. Zmarzlak was hit, which loaded up the bases yet again.
Diamant grounded into a double play, but Georgia Tech was in control of the game now going to the 8th.
Patel got through the inning quickly and Georgia Tech had a chance to add to its lead.
They did just that. Georgia Tech scored six more runs in the 8th inning and that was the game. The Yellow Jackets overcame a slow start and scored 11 runs in the seventh and eighth innings to pull away from Youngstown State. It was not the best performance, but the Yellow Jackets avoided a disastrous loss to a 0-10 team.
The Yellow Jackets will have a double-header with Youngstown State tomorrow with the first game slated to begin at 1:00 p.m.
