Four days after graduation, Georgia Tech’s senior class received a priceless parting gift — a third consecutive season-series victory over Georgia.
The Yellow Jackets subdued the Bulldogs with 12 hits, clean defense and a strong start by pitcher Josh Heddinger in an 8-6 win Wednesday night at Russ Chandler Stadium. Tech took the series 2-1; the Jackets are 8-3 against the Bulldogs in the past four years and have beaten the Bulldogs in seven consecutive games at Russ Chandler.
"Great win," Tech coach Danny Hall said. "Anytime you win and win a series over Georgia, it's a great win."
Georgia accelerated its demise by allowing seven walks, tying its season high.
Tech continued its torrid hitting, strafing the Bulldogs with line drives and burrowing through seven Georgia pitchers. The Jackets, hitting .299 for the season, had hit .316 in their past five games. Eight of Tech’s nine starters reached base by a base hit. Daniel Palka, Zane Evans, Thomas Smith and Daniel Spingola each collected two hits. Smith and Kyle Wren both drove in two runs.
"They helped us a little bit, walked us some, but I felt we had good at-bats, good swings on ‘em," Hall said. "I feel like we've been swinging pretty good, so it's a good win."
“We pitched poorly tonight, and I take the blame for that as we just can’t do that this late in the year,” Georgia coach David Perno said. “We wanted to keep some guys fresh for the upcoming South Carolina series, but we needed to do better tonight."
Heddinger took care of the Bulldogs again after holding them down in Tech’s 4-3 win at Turner Field on April 24. Heddinger (3-4) went six innings and gave up one run, unearned, and four hits. In 10 2/3 innings against Georgia, the freshman from Buford High has a 0.84 ERA.
"I thought Josh Heddinger was really good," Hall said. "Very proud of the way he handled himself."
Georgia starter David Sosebee (2-1) lasted one inning and took the loss. The defeat ended the Bulldogs’ four-game winning streak.
The Jackets (30-19) also gained valuable RPI ranking currency in their effort to secure an NCAA tournament berth, which would be their 26th in 28 years. Tech’s RPI ranking as of Tuesday was 31st. The Jackets have won seven of their past nine. Tech reached the 30-win mark for the 30th consecutive season.
The Jackets likely will need to qualify for the eight-team ACC tournament to nail down a berth. They stand seventh, with series remaining against No. 21 Virginia and Miami.
Georgia (28-21), which ranked 41st in RPI, likely also has some scuffling to do to make the tournament, work that probably requires making the 10-team SEC tournament. The Bulldogs, in a three-way tie for fifth in the league, have an important home series with No. 4 South Carolina this weekend.
Playing before 2,382 fans, Tech started early by grabbing a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Leading off, Wren scored on a single, balk, ground out and sacrifice fly. Palka scored the next run by doubling and then scoring in the next at-bat on an Evans double.
Tech broke the game open with three runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 6-1 lead. Jake Davies, Palka and Smith scored as the Jackets produced only one extra-base hit (Smith’s double) and exploited three walks in the inning.
An additional two runs in the bottom of the seventh pushed the lead to 8-1 and blunted the impact of a three-run home run by Georgia’s Hunter Cole in the next half inning. A double play induced by pitcher Jarrett Didrick ended the threat.
In the top of the ninth, Georgia rallied by scoring two runs with two out and putting the tying run on first base. Alex Cruz closed the game by getting Levi Hyams to ground out.
Tech shortstop Mott Hyde, second baseman Smith and first baseman Davies turned four double plays, and the Jackets played their 11th error-free game of the season.
"I felt like we made good plays defensively," Hall said. "In particular, Mott Hyde has been playing well."
Said Perno, "As far as the double plays, it was just one of those nights, but we have to make adjustments when we see that happening too many times."
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