March 30, 2007
Box Score
ATLANTA, Ga. - Junior Steve Braun lined a solo shot over the left field wall in the top of the ninth inning to break open a tie game, but Georgia Tech rallied in the bottom of the inning to take a 5-4 win Friday evening in the two teams' series opener at Russ Chandler Stadium. The Yellow Jackets (17-11, 6-4 ACC) earned the victory after Luke Murton's single through the left side scored Jeff Ussery in the ninth.
Maryland (18-9, 5-5), meanwhile, fell as they could not hold off the Jackets' charge. Junior Brett Cecil (3-3) took the loss after entering in the eighth, while GT reliever Brad Rulon (1-1) picked up his first win of the year.
The Terps plated the day's first two runs early, as sophomore Gerry Spessard doubled to center field in the first to score classmate Mike Murphy, who singled for the game's second hit. One inning later, leadoff man Dan Melvin was hit by a pitch and was brought home on a bunt single by Braun.
Georgia Tech responded loudly in the bottom half of the second, though, as it scored three runs to take their first lead of the day. Leadoff hitter Matt Wieters walked and was brought home by Tony Plagman, who doubled to left center. Plagman advanced to third on a bunt single by Chris House, and then scored as Terps starter Casey Baron was charged with a balk.
House gave the Jackets a 3-2 advantage when he was brought home by Danny Payne's RBI single.
The Terps evened the ledger in the fourth inning, when Braun notched his second RBI of the day on a double down the left field line, scoring Wink Nolan from second. GT starter David Duncan avoided further damage, though, as a fly out and a strikeout ended the threat.
From there, both teams were held scoreless until the game's final stanza. Baron pitched effectively through 7.1 innings, but was removed with two men on in the eighth. Cecil took the mound and recorded a strikeout and a groundout to end the inning unscathed.
In the ninth, Braun blasted his first home run of the year and second in a Terrapin uniform as he took Duncan deep over the left field fence. Rulon was inserted into the game following a Joe Palumbo single, and he escaped when Palumbo was caught stealing, followed by a strikeout.
The Jackets quickly recovered in the bottom half, as House was issued a leadoff walk. Payne brought the tying run home with his RBI single, and the next batter, Murton, gave Georgia Tech the come-from-behind win.
Maryland will try to even the series tomorrow afternoon when the two teams meet at Russ Chandler Stadium for a 1 p.m. first pitch. The game can be viewed live on ACC Select, while WMUC Sports will have radio coverage.
