Georgia Tech returned home tonight and was looking for one win against Miami tonight. The Yellow Jackets have won their third straight ACC series and are looking to make it to the NCAA Tournament. There are four tough series to end the year, starting tonight against the Hurricanes.
It was a close game all night long, but three runs in the final two innings gave Miami the victory. Georgia Tech’s offense left several chances down the field and the bullpen was unable to hold the lead.
Let’s take a look back at tonight’s series opener.
The starting lineup for the Yellow Jackets is as follows:
1. LF Trey Junger
2. CF Drew Burress
3. DH Matthew Ellis
4. 1B Cam Jones
5. 3B John Giesler
6.SS Peyton Green
7. RF Bobby Zmarzlak
8.C. Van Lackey
9. 2B Mike Beckchetti
Aiden Finatelli was on the mound for the Yellow Jackets.
However, Miami took the lead in the first inning with a solo home run with one out. That was the only point they were able to score, but Georgia Tech was forced to come back early.
After Junger hit a leadoff single, Burress grounded into a double play and Ellis grounded out. Miami led 1-0 going into the second.
After an error put out a runner, Georgia Tech forced a double play and grounded out in the bottom of the second inning.
The bottom of the second inning was exactly the same as the bottom of the first. Jones hit a leadoff single against Georgia Tech, but then grounded out into a double play and popped out. Miami led 1-0 going into the third inning.
Neither attack moved until the third time. The Hurricanes held a 1-0 advantage until the fourth inning.
Miami was hit with a single, but Finatelli continued to pitch well and made it 1-0.
The bottom of the fourth inning looked like it would be over quickly for the Yellow Jackets, but they found a way to take advantage.
Junger popped out to start the inning, then Burress reached on an error and Ellis popped out to make two outs for Georgia Tech. Burress then advanced to second base on a wild pitch, and Jones issued a walk, giving Georgia Tech a runner on second base. The first run of the game was scored by Giesler’s RBI, and then Green was hit by a pitch and the bases were loaded. It was a big chance for Georgia Tech to score.
Bobby Zmarzulak then hit a double to put Georgia Tech ahead 3-1. Lackey grounded out to end the inning, but it was a productive fourth inning for the Yellow Jackets.
But they didn’t hold the lead for long. Miami hit a leadoff single and then a two-run home run to tie the game. Finatelli started the first inning, but Georgia Tech couldn’t hold onto the lead for long.
The Yellow Jackets trailed 1-2-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning, making it a 3-3 game through the sixth inning.
It was a quick sixth inning for both teams, with Miami trailing 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh before the Yellow Jackets regained the lead on Green’s go-ahead home run to make it 4-3. That was their only offensive production, but they got what they needed and only needed six more outs to win the game.
Finatelli’s day ended after seven innings and he was replaced by Ben King. After King quickly got two outs, it looked like he was going to finish the inning early, but he gave up a walk and then was hit with a home run to give Miami the lead back. He got the final out, but Georgia Tech needed to score more to win the game.
However, the offensive line couldn’t do anything until the bottom of the 8th inning.
Brett Thomas entered the game in place of King, but it was a struggle for him.
He gave up a leadoff single and then two walks to load the bases for Miami. After he struck out a batter for his first out, he gave up a bases-loaded walk to give Miami a 6-4 lead. Georgia Tech was able to end the inning with a double play. They needed two points to stay in the game and three points to win.
But there was no nine-inning comeback tonight. Georgia Tech grounded out in every at-bat and lost 6-4 to Miami in Game 1.
Georgia Tech currently falls to 25-15 and 9-10 in the ACC. The second game is scheduled to start tomorrow at 4pm.