ATLANTA, Ga. – Georgia Southern could not overcome a 7-run third inning, losing 11-2 at 25th-ranked Georgia Tech Tuesday afternoon (Feb. 26). The Eagles fell to 1-3 while Tech improved to 4-0.
Tech struck first when freshman Thomas Nichols hit a 2-run homer with two outs in the second inning, his first collegiate home run. The Yellow Jackets plated seven runs on seven hits during the third inning, extending their lead to 9-0.
Kyle Blackburn (Marietta/Walton) nailed a solo homer with two outs in the fourth to put the Eagles on the scoreboard. It was his team-leading second round-tripper. In the eighth Jeremy Beckham (Griffin/Griffin) lined a two-out single. Matt Miller (Canton/Woodstock) sent a RBI triple into the right field corner, making it a 10-2 game.
Tech threatened again the eighth. Ryan Steidl (Randolph, N.J./Morris Knolls) gave up the first two walks of the game by a Georgia Southern pitcher and a single to load the bases with one out. Luke Murton ended a 0-4 outing with a single that Steidl knocked down from going up the middle. The redshirt-freshman recorded his third strikeout of the game and got a flyball to limit the damage.
Beckham accounted for two of the Eagles’ six hits. Griffin Benedict (Dunwoody/St. Pius) and pinch-hitter Phillip Porter (Marietta/Sprayberry) each had a single.
Starter Burt Barto (Columbus/Columbus) lasted 2.2 innings and was charged for eight runs on nine hits, striking out one. He lost his first decision of the year.
Freshman Tony Chisman (Conyers/Salem) pitched well in relief, allowing two runs on five hits in 3.1 innings. He did not allow a walk and struck out three. Steidl allowed the one run on two hits in two innings. He walked two to go with his three Ks.
Deck McGuire was impressive in his first collegiate start, limiting GS to one run on three hits in seven innings. He walked one and struck out three. Chris House and Charlie Blackmon had three hits apiece for Tech. In their first four games (starting off the year playing 13 in a row at home) Tech has out-scored its opponents 31-3.
Game two of the midweek series will take place Wednesday afternoon (Feb. 27), first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m.
