Beesball Loses to Tarheels 3-2 in Extras

Georgia Tech came into the game looking to extend their four-game winning streak after sweeping the mid-week games against Kennesaw State and Georgia State. The pitching match-up would see freshman RHP Trent Thornton for the Tarheels and junior RHP Josh Heddinger for the Yellow Jackets.

UNC got the game started off pretty quickly getting two men on base with only one out in the bottom of the first inning, but were unable to do anything, as the next two batters grounded and flied out.

The game would not see any scoring until the top of the third inning. With freshman RF Keenan Innis at third base and two outs, junior CF Daniel Spingola brought him home with an RBI triple to right.

UNC would not stay silent for very long, however. In the bottom of the fifth inning, with a runner on first and nobody out, 2B Wood Myers hit a double to right, which was enough to bring the lead runner home. Myers would come home on a sac fly from the DH Tom Zengel on the next at-bat.

The Yellow Jackets would fight back to tie the game one last time in the top of the eighth inning. With runners on second and third, senior captain Mott Hyde hit a sac fly to bring home freshman SS Connor Justus. Unfortunately for the Jackets, Matt Gonzalez struck out in the next at-bat, effectively ending the inning.

Both teams remained unable to score until the bottom of the eleventh inning. With a runner on second and two outs, 2B Wood Myers, who knocked in the first run for the Tarheels, hit an RBI single through the left side to bring home Brandon Whiteford, who came on to pinch run for 1B Joe Dudek, thus ending the game.

Other than giving up the walk-off run in the eleventh inning, it was a magnificent day for the Yellow Jackets pitching staff. Starting the game for them was junior RHP Josh Heddinger. In Heddinger's 5.0 innings of work, he gave up two runs (one earned) on three hits and struck out seven batters. He also walked four and hit two, though. Next up for the Jackets was sophomore LHP Sam Clay. In his 3.2 innings of work, Clay gave up zero runs on two hits and struck out six batters with two walks. Finishing up the game for the Yellow Jackets was senior RHP and captain Dusty Isaacs. In his 2.0 innings of work, Isaacs allowed one run (the walk-off) on one hit, with three strikeouts and a walk.

While they may not have won the game, it was still an impressive game for the pitching staff, as they only gave up one extra-base hit (a double to Wood Myers in the fifth inning). They also accounted for 16 strikeouts, which I believe is a season-high.

Starting for the Tarheels today was freshman RHP Trent Thornton. In his 8.0 innings of work, Thornton allowed two runs on four hits, while striking out eight batters. Finishing the game up for the Tarheels was sophomore RHP Reilly Hovis. In his 3.0 innings of work, Hovis allowed no runs on one hit with four strikeouts.

Sophomore RHP Reilly Hovis was credited with the win and senior RHP Dusty Isaacs with the loss. The series continues with a double-header tomorrow. The first game is at 2 PM and the second at 6 PM. Both games are available on both 91.1 FM WREK and ESPN3.

Can we sweep the double-header tomorrow like we did a week ago? Which GT offense will show up tomorrow: the one from earlier this week that scored too much or the one from today that could not seem to score?