Beesball Beats Georgia State 7-3

It was a good night for baseball in the state of Georgia. Aaron Harang in his Braves debut pitched nearly spotless baseball in 6.2 innings in a victory over the Brewers and the Yellow Jackets won a game. With AJ Murray's grand slam, the Yellow Jackets also ended an 11-game homerless streak.

If I have not made it clear yet, the Yellow Jackets got the scoring started off very early in the game, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first inning. Senior captain and 2B Mott Hyde led off the game with a single into right field. He would come home after the next batter, freshman SS Connor Justus, hit a double into left field on a 2-2 pitch. What happened next was amazing. After a single by sophomore LF Matt Gonzalez and a walk to junior 1B Thomas Smith, junior DH AJ Murray came up to the plate. He did not wait for a second pitch. The first pitch was good enough for Murray to hit a grandslam to left field with. The Yellow Jackets would try to keep the scoring going, getting junior CF Daniel Spingola all the way to third base, before the last two outs of the inning occurred.

The Yellow Jackets would add to their lead in both the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings. Senior captain and 2B Mott Hyde, again, got a single. He would move to second on a wild pitch, before scoring unearned on a fielding error by the Georgia State right fielder while Matt Gonzalez was at bat. The Yellow Jackets would score again in the bottom of the fifth inning, when AJ Murray walked, stole second, advanced to third on a Daniel Spingola single, and then scored on a sac fly from freshman 3B Brandon Gold.

Georgia State would try some sort of a comeback in the last two innings. With the bases loaded and two out in the top of the eighth inning, sophomore C Joey Roach hit a single through the right side to drive in two runs. The Panthers would score their final run of the game in the top of the ninth inning. With a runner on third and one out, sophomore DH Matt Rose hit a double into left field to bring home the runner at third.

Starting the game for the Yellow Jackets was freshman LHP Ben Parr. In his 5.2 innings, Parr allowed zero runs on five hits, while striking out two and walking five. Coming on in his relief was sophomore LHP Sam Clay. Clay finished the sixth inning for the Yellow Jackets, facing only one batter and getting him out. Pitching the seventh inning for the Yellow Jackets was freshman RHP Matthew Gorst. In his 1.0 inning of work, Gorst allowed no runs on no hits, while striking out and walking a batter. Pitching the eighth inning for the Yellow Jackets was freshman RHP Matt Phillips. In his 1.0 inning of work, Phillips allowed two runs on two hits, while striking out two batters and walking two. Closing out the game for the Yellow Jackets was senior captain and RHP Dusty Isaacs. In his 1.0 inning of work, Isaacs allowed a run on two hits, with no strikeouts or walks. Ben Parr was credited with the win.

Starting the game for the Panthers was junior LHP Tyler McClure. McClure faced five batters, did not record an out, and allowed five runs on four hits with a walk. Coming on in his relief was sophomore LHP Wayne Wages. In his 2.0 innings of work, Wages allowed zero runs on one hit, with no strikeouts and a walk. Pitching the next 2.0 innings for the Panthers was sophomore LHP Garrett Ford. Ford allowed one run on one hit, with a strikeout. Coming on in his relief was redshirt senior LHP Hunter Cash. In his 2.0 innings of work, Cash allowed one run on three hits, with two walks. Pitching the final 2.0 innings of the game for the Panthers was junior RHP Connor Stanley. He allowed zero runs on one hit, with three strikeouts. Tyler McClure was credited with the loss.

Georgia Tech's next game will be Friday night at 7 PM against the Duke Blue Devils in Atlanta. The game will be available on 91.1 FM WREK and ESPN3.

How do y'all feel about the season sweep of Georgia State? With the homerless streak ending tonight, will Beesball start a homer-per-game streak?