Beesball Sweeps Doubleheader, Takes Series Against Miami

It was an exciting weekend for the Yellow Jackets as they got their second taste of ACC play this year. After losing the series to Wake Forest a week ago, Tech was looking for some momentum to carry them through the weekend. That momentum came in the very first game. Starting five runs down after the second inning in the first game, it looked as though we were going to see a repeat of last weekend, but the Yellow Jackets stormed back for five combined runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Miami would take the lead two more times only to be tied back up by the Yellow Jackets, until the final inning, when Miami took their final lead of the game, which they won 10-8.

AJ Murray led the way for the Yellow Jackets offensively, getting three hits in his four at-bats. With his three hits, Murray got two doubles and also added a stolen base. Also adding three hits for the first game of this series was true freshman SS Connor Justus, who got his three hits in six at-bats. Senior captain Mott Hyde finished the afternoon with only one hit in three at-bats, but also drove in three runs. Matt Gonzalez added his first homerun of the season. Unfortunately for Thomas Smith, his hitting streak came to an end at 12 games.

Starting Game 1 for the Yellow Jackets was freshman RHP Zac Ryan. In his 2.0 innings of work, Ryan gave up five runs (two earned) on four hits, with one strikeout and three walks. Coming on in his relief was junior RHP Josh Heddinger. In his 5.0 innings of work, Heddinger gave up two runs on six hits, with one strikeout and one walk. Pitching the final two innings for the Yellow Jackets were senior RHPs Jonathan Roberts (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 K, 0 BB) and captain Dusty Isaacs (1.0 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 2 K, 2 BB).

While the Yellow Jackets may not have won the first game of the series, they saw their ability to come back time and time again as motivation to go out and finish the series strong in Saturday's doubleheader.

After starting the game with a 6-0 deficit, it looked like all that motivation of coming from behind meant absolutely nothing. That would be wrong. Georgia Tech would score two runs each in the third, fourth, and fifth innings to tie the game up at six apiece. Miami would take their final lead of the game in the top of the seventh inning, but Georgia Tech would not let them go silently. The Yellow Jackets stormed back for seven runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to take a 13-7 lead, which would be the final score.

Junior CF Daniel Spingola lead the way for the Yellow Jackets offensively in game 1 of the doubleheader, finishing with a perfect 4-for-4 day, with three RBI and a walk. Mott Hyde also contributed with his 3-for-4 line on the day, also finishing with three RBI. Freshman 3B Brandon Gold got two hits in four at-bats, while also adding two RBI and a walk.

Starting the game for the Yellow Jackets was RS-junior RHP Matt Grimes. In his 3.0 innings of work, Grimes allowed six runs on 10 hits, with a strikeout and a walk. Coming on in his relief was freshman RHP Matthew Gorst. He pitched 3.0 innings, allowing one run on zero hits, with two strikeouts and four walks. Finishing the game for the Yellow Jackets was sophomore LHP Sam Clay. In his 3.0 innings of work, Clay allowed no runs on zero hits, with two strikeouts and a walk.

The rubber game of the series would bring even more excitement than the previous two, going right down to the wire. In the bottom of the tenth inning, with runners on second and third, freshman Connor Justus came up to the plate. On the 1-2 pitch, Justus singled to the left side, bringing home Keenan Innis to win the game and the series for the Yellow Jackets.

That was Justus' only hit in four at-bats, but it came at the perfect time. Also contributing for the Yellow Jackets offensively were Mott Hyde, who scored two runs, Matt Gonzalez, who drove in two runs, and AJ Murray, who had two hits.

Starting the game for the Yellow Jackets was senior LHP and captain Devin Stanton. In his 6.0 innings of work, Stanton allowed two runs on four hits, with six strikeouts and two walks. Pitching the last four innings for the Yellow Jackets were senior RHPs Jonathan Roberts and Dusty Isaacs. Thankfully, they pitched better than in the first game when they allowed a combined three runs. In 4.0 innings, Roberts and Isaacs combined to allow no runs on zero hits, with six strikeouts (Roberts with four, Isaacs with two) and no walks.

This was a great series for Georgia Tech that should carry a lot of momentum, as they prepare to play Kennesaw State on the road on Tuesday night, and then Georgia State also on the road on Wednesday night. Both games can be heard on 91.1 FM WREK.

How big was this series for Beesball? Will we continue to see the ability to come back from large deficits? Where on Earth did this offense come from?