Maryland
Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech Flies Past Maryland, 16-6, To Earn Series Win
3/31/2007 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 31, 2007
ATLANTA, Ga. - After taking game one of the series in a ninth-inning comeback Friday, Georgia Tech pounded out a season-high 18 hits as it defeated the Maryland baseball team Saturday, 16-6. The Yellow Jackets (18-11, 7-4 ACC) earned the series victory, while the Terrapins (18-10, 5-6 ACC) dropped a Saturday game for just the second time this season.
Tech reliever Jared Hyatt improved to 5-0 after entering the game in the fifth to pick up the win, while Terps starter Ryan Moorer (3-1) was saddled with his first loss of the season, as he was roughed up for six earned runs on nine hits in just 2.2 innings of work.
The Yellow Jackets scored first, as RBI singles by Wally Crancer and Tony Plagman with two outs gave Tech a 2-0 lead. One inning later, they continued their two-out scoring with a base hit up the middle by Michael Fisher which scored leadoff hitter Patrick Long, who walked to open the second. The next batter, catcher Matt Wieters, singled but the Jackets did not plate another run, as Danny Payne was thrown out at home by right fielder AJ Casario.
Casario contributed offensively after that, as he led off the third inning with a double down the left field line. Following a bunt single by sophomore Mike Murphy, Casario scored on an RBI fielder's choice by Gerry Spessard.
Georgia Tech responded in the bottom half, scoring three runs to extend its lead. Chris House singled up the middle to bring Plagman and Jeff Ussery home. House then scored as reliever Brett Tidball was called for a balk.
Tech put up another three-spot in the fourth inning, as a double by Plagman and a Long triple left the score at 9-1. However, Maryland fought right back in the top of the fifth as the Terps, closing the gap to four with four runs of their own. A ground rule double by Spessard, followed by a Dan Melvin sacrifice fly plated leadoff hitter Casario as well as Murphy. Two RBI base hits by catcher Chad Durakis and center fielder Dan Benick scored the final two runs of the inning.
Again, the Yellow Jackets found an answer, as they added five runs to their tally in the bottom half of the fifth, highlighted by Plagman's second double of the day which scored two Tech baserunners.
Maryland tacked on its sixth run of the day in the seventh inning, when Benick's third single of the day scored designated hitter Will Greenberg, who doubled to reach base.
Long homered to lead off the eighth, and he was followed by House, who singled and scored on a Like Murton sacrifice fly to close out the scoreboard.
Maryland will seek to avoid its first sweep of the year as it meets Georgia Tech at 1 p.m. Sunday for the series finale at Russ Chandler Stadium. Junior Kevin Biringer will take the mound for the Terps, while Ryan Turner will have the call for the Jackets. The game can be viewed live on ACC Select or heard on WMUC Sports.
