In his final career at-bat against Georgia, Georgia Tech’s Matt Gonzalez made it count.
Gonzalez drove a 1-2 fastball from Bulldogs reliever Blake Cairnes into the left-field seats, the decisive swing in the Yellow Jackets’ 6-3 win in 10 innings over the Bulldogs Tuesday night at Turner Field. With the win, the Jackets avoided the first Georgia sweep in a season series of three games or more since 1984 and built up momentum for their final ACC series of the season this weekend against Boston College.
It was the final game between the rivals at the stadium, which has hosted the benefit game for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta since 2003.
“I haven’t had a very good career here at Turner Field my four years, so it felt good to get that one, definitely,” Gonzalez said.
Kel Johnson immediately followed Gonzalez’ two-run blast with a solo shot for the three-run margin. Zac Ryan retired Georgia in order in the bottom of the 10th, the last of his 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief for Tech.
Tech (34-18) had been largely dormant Tuesday night after putting up three runs in the top of the third to take a 3-1 lead. The Jackets had managed three hits between the fourth and the ninth innings, continuing a pattern of offensive futility against the Bulldogs.
Tech came into the game 13th in the country in batting average at .313, while Georgia’s 4.53 ERA was 140th nationally.
Yet in the first 27 innings of play against the Bulldogs, Tech was 21-for-98 (.214) with nine runs scored. The 10th inning finally changed the dynamic. Wade Bailey singled with one out. Gonzalez initially tried to bunt Bailey to second but was unable. Tech coach Danny Hall then called for a hit-and-run, but Gonzalez fouled it off.
With the count 1-2, Gonzalez recalled his first two at-bats earlier in the season against Cairnes, both strikeouts when he threw high fastballs.
“So I figured he was going to go throw me a high fastball, and I think he just left it a little over the plate and I got my hands there,” Gonzalez said.
The view from the opposing dugout was fairly similar.
“That pitch was supposed to be off the plate, and threw it right down the middle,” Georgia coach Scott Stricklin said. “A 1-2 count right there, can’t do that. He just made a mistake and Gonzalez made him pay for it.”
Georgia (26-27) had chances as it came back from the 3-1 deficit, but stranded nine runners in the game. Following starter Burton Dulaney, Tech relievers Cole Pitts, Keyton Gibson and Ben Parr took turns skirting danger. The Bulldogs left the bases loaded in the sixth. Georgia was 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
“We had our opportunities,” Stricklin said. “We had some guys in scoring position, we just didn’t get it done.”
“I think our pitching really managed the game well,” Hall said. “We wanted to use a lot of guys. I thought Zac Ryan was outstanding in the end of it there.”
Pitcher Kevin Smith was particularly effective for Georgia, throwing four scoreless innings in relief of starter Andrew Gist. Despite their record, the Bulldogs came into the game with an RPI of No. 25 but likely still has significant work to do before it can earn an at-large bid into the NCAA tournament.
“We’ve been talking about here down the stretch, we have to make sure we play for our seniors and we still have a lot to play for,” Stricklin said. “We can finish the season strong with a great series against Tennessee.”
A crowd of 19,286 attended, the largest attendance for a college baseball game this season. Not quite as many were around when Gonzalez toured the bases in the 10th inning. Not that it mattered to him.
Said Hall, “He’s going to remember that for the rest of his life.”
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