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Cavaliers Fall to No. 1 Georgia Tech, 8-2
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March 10, 2006
ATLANTA, Ga. – – Mike Mitchell went 3-for-5 with one run scored and Shooter Hunt recorded five strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings of relief, but Georgia Tech’s Blake Wood held Virginia to one run in eight innings in leading the No. 1 Yellow Jackets to an 8-2 win Friday evening in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams at Russ Chandler Stadium. David Adams was 2-for-4 for the Cavaliers (14-3, 0-1 ACC) who matched Georgia Tech with eight hits.
“We know we can’t make mistakes and expect to win games on the road especially against good teams in this conference,” UVa head baseball coach Brian O’Connor said. “We gave them some opportunities that they capitalized on. Our guys knew this was going to be a tough series. We’re going to make adjustments and get ready for the next two games in the series.”
Mike Ballard started the game for the Cavaliers. He tossed 3 1/3 innings, allowed three runs, two earned, walked four and struck out two in suffering his first loss of the season. Hunt pitched well despite allowing four runs on five hits. Wood struck out six for the Yellow Jackets, before giving way to Brad Rulon in the ninth inning.
Sean Doolittle, Beau Seabury and Jeremy Farrell each had one hit for the Cavaliers. Danny Payne led Georgia Tech going 3-for-5 with one run scored and one RBI. Mike Trapani drove in two on two hits for Georgia Tech, who also finished with eight hits in the games.
Virginia loaded the bases in the top of the ninth with one out. Mitchell laid down a bunt for a base hit after Mike Campagna walked and Greg Miclat was hit by a pitch. Tim Henry hit into a fielder’s choice to score Campagna for UVa’s second run, but GT’s Brad Rulon got Doolittle to fly out to end the inning.
The Cavaliers pushed their first run of the game across in the top of the eighth. Mitchell led off with a double to right field. One batter later, Mitchell scored on Doolittle’s sacrifice fly to left field pulling the Cavaliers within, 6-1. Virginia continued its threat when Adams followed with a single up the middle and Brandon Guyer was hit by a pitch giving UVa two baserunners, but Tom Hagan grounded out to shortstop to end the inning.
Georgia Tech added two runs in the bottom of the eighth as Steven Blackwood scored on Payne’s infield single putting Tech ahead, 7-1. Wes Hodges followed with a RBI double giving the Yellow Jackets an 8-1 advantage.
Trapani gave Georgia Tech a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second. He doubled off the right field wall scoring Whit Robbins and Steven Blackwood, who both drew walks to get on base. The Yellow Jackets went ahead, 3-0, after a ground out by Jeff Kindel scored Michael Fisher, who reached on an error.
Luke Murton’s three-run home run to right field put the Yellow Jackets ahead, 6-0, in the bottom of the fifth.
Virginia and Georgia Tech continue their series Saturday at 1 p.m. Freshman right-hander Jacob Thompson will face Georgia Tech’s Lee Hyde.