Box Score Atlanta -- Georgia Tech scored four runs in the bottom of
the eighth to break a 1-1 tie and defeat Youngstown State 5-1 on
Sunday afternoon at Russ Chandler Stadium.
For the second straight day, the Penguins stood toe-to-toe with
the 25th-ranked Yellow Jackets the entire game. YSU led 1-0 at one
point and was deadlocked with Tech in hits and runs before the
eighth.
Chase Burnette led off with a pinch hit single and advanced to
second on Chris House's sacrifice bunt. After Derek Dietrich
reached on an infield single, Burnette scored from third when the
relay was low to first on Charlie Blackmon's potential
inning-ending double play.
Luke Murton singled through the right side to put runners at the
corners, and Curtis Dupart hit a pinch-hit, two-run double down the
right field line to make the score 4-1. Dupart then scored when
Patrick Long's grounder to second was bobbled for the final
tally.
YSU starter Aaron Swenson yielded only one run on a solo homer
in the second to Tony Plagman in seven innings of work. The
sophomore righty allowed five hits, struck out four and retired
Tech in order in three innings.
Reliever Ryan Sellman was charged with the first two runs in the
eighth in a losing effort.
"We had another outstanding starting pitching effort from
Aaron," head coach Rich Pasquale said. "I'm proud of our effort all
weekend, but we're still 0-3. We need to execute better and just
continue to stay positive."
"Guys are playing hard, and that's what we want. We played hard,
and we played the whole time feeling that we could win the
game."
"You just can't say enough about our pitching this weekend."
Brad Rulon earned the win for the Yellow Jackets by striking out
two hitters in a scoreless eighth. Starter Zach Von Tersch allowed
one run on four hits and a walk while striking out five.
The Penguins took their first lead of the series in the second
when they collected three of their five hits. Dustin Wachter and
Eric Marzec singled to start the inning, and Sean Lucas hit a
two-out single to left to plate Wachter.
YSU had the leadoff man on in four other innings but couldn't
string anything together.
YSU will play a three-game series against Pittsburgh at V.A.
Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe, Ohio, starting with Saturday
doubleheader at 1 p.m.