Baseball: Yellow Jackets Defeat Georgia Southern 12-3 in Final Regular Season Midweek Game

Tech played the Eagles in Statesboro way back on February 21^st in both teams’ 4^th game of the season and the Jackets won 10-3 with Kel Johnson hitting three home runs. Since then, the Eagles have a good season with a 35-17 record and have the fourth best record in the Sun Belt Conference.

For bad news, Kel Johnson is out for the year after dislocating his shoulder Sunday, Chase Murray missed tonight still sore from Sunday, and Joey Bart also missed tonight. Nick Wilhite and Keenan Innis started.

Tuesday: Georgia Tech 12, Georgia Southern 3

Ben Schneiderjans (2-4, 4.30) went against right handed Sophomore Brian Eichhorn.

Southern struck first in their 2^nd on a walk, double and RBI sacrifice bunt to make it 1-0. The Jackets quickly answered in the bottom of the 2^nd. Poje singled, Austin Wilhite doubled, Stallings walked and Innis sacrificed Poje in. Then, Nick Wilhite tripled down the left field line to drive in his brother and Stallings before Bailey singled Nick in to make it 4-1. In the bottom of the 3^rd, Eichhorn was relieved by right hander Ryan Frederick after Poje doubled to lead off. Poje later scored on Stallings groundout to make it 5-1 after three.

Schneiderjans struggled with control in the 4^th, and was relieved by Datoc after walking the first two batters and throwing a ball to the next. Jared came through with a strikeout and double play grounder to end the threat. Jared also benefited from a double play in the 5^th after a leadoff single.

In the bottom of the 5^th, Austin Wilhite walked after two quick outs and Brandt Stallings drove a ball to deepest center field, where it hit just above the yellow line to make it 7-1. Anthony Paesano, a left handed sidearm pitcher, relieved Frederick.

Connor Thomas pitched the top of the 6^th for Tech. After he retired the Eagles 1-2-3, Hunter Phillips pitched the bottom of the 6^th. Tech got three more runs when Poje hit a line drive over the right field wall after Bailey reached on an error and McCann was hit by a pitch. Another sidearm pitcher came in for Southern, right hander Eric Goldstein.

The Eagles scored a run in their 7^th on a single, walk, fielder's choice, and error on the shortstop. It was 10-2 when Zach Strickland came in to pitch for the Eagles. Stallings greeted him by casually lofting a ball over the left field wall to get the run back. Then, after two outs, three straight singles by Bailey, Craport, and Peurifoy scored the 12^th run for the Jackets. Micah Carpenter came in to pitch the 8^th, and gave up a solo home run to Tyler Martin after two outs, then Jonathan King came in and got out three. Lawson Humphries came in to pitch to Tech in the 8^th and was relieved by Colt Ramsey after two outs. Paxton Rigby pinch hit for Stallings and got his first career hit, a single, before Brenton Sanders flew out deep to center.

Zach Ryan pitched the 9^th and closed it out despite an error on second base. Datoc got the win and Eichhorn the loss as the Jackets improved their record to 26-24.

Bottom Line

We run this State! Well, except for…..you know, but we won't talk about that. Tech needs to win a game at least against the Cavaliers this weekend to feel confident about the ACC. Two wins would seal it.