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The starting pitchers for today's game were Jake Drossner (4 - 1, 2.18 ERA) vs. LHP Devin Stanton (5 - 3, 2.13 ERA). Stanton elected to pitch from the stretch, regardless of the situation.
Yellow Jackets jump out to early lead, Schmit's homer halves it
Things started out shakily for Drossner. After getting two quick outs, Matt Gonzales singled through the right side. Thomas Smith doubled off the wall in right, putting Tech up 1 - 0. A J Murray slugged a double in the left center field gap for Tech's second run. Connor Justus grounded out for the last out.
In the top of the second with one out and a man on first, Mitch Earnest popped up to shallow center. It looked like the ball would drop for a hit. However, Brandon Lowe made an incredible over-the-shoulder grab, spun around, and threw to Wade for the double play. In the bottom half of the inning Blake Schmit turned on a pitch and sent a shot that bounced off the top of the left field fence for a home run.
Kevin Martir started the Maryland third inning by singling though the box. Charlie White sacrificed Martir to second. After LaMonte Wade popped up, Martir went to third on a passed ball with Lowe up. However Lowe grounded to first to end the inning.
Yellow Jackets grab one more but so do Terps
Thomas Smith began Georgia Tech's fourth by lining a double down the left field line. A J Murray singled Smith home. After three and a half Georgia Tech lead 3 - 1.
Cuas led off the bottom of the fourth by sending Daniel Spingola back to the center field wall for a long out. Schmit drew a four pitch walk. After Lewis flew out Cieri delivered a single up the middle. Anthony Papio tomahawked a pitch to right for an RBI single. That finished Stanton, with RHP Matthew Grimes coming in to pitch. He proceeded to hit Martir to load the bases. White grounded out, cutting short the rally.
Terps take the lead in the sixth, but Tech rallies to tie it
Both sides went down in order in the fifth inning. Bobby Ruse took the hill for the Terps in the top of the sixth. Gonzales lined an outside pitch into the right field corner for a double. But Ruse left Gonzales standing there by striking out Thomas, then retiring Murray and Connor Justus.
Schmit drew a walk to begin the bottom of the sixth. Lewis singled to center, extending his hitting streak to 14 games. Cieri singled to shallow center and the bases were loaded with nobody out. Papio singled to tie the score at three all. Martir grounded into 5 - 4 - 3 double play, with Lewis scoring. White grounded out. At the end of six Maryland led for the first time, 4 - 3.
In the top of the seventh Gold hit a drive that Lewis dove for and almost made a circus catch. With Gold on second Ryan Peurifoy sacrificed the runner to third. Kevin Mooney came in for the Terps. With Mooney coming in this early in the game one had to think that Jake Stinnett might see action in the ninth. Unfortunately Mitch Earnest sent a fly to right that tied the score. Mooney then struck out Mott Hyde for the third out.
RHP Jonathan Roberts relieved Grimes in the seventh. He retired the Terps in order. At the end of seven innings the score was tied at 4 - 4.
Georgia Tech opens up a three-run lead
Spingola slashed an opposite field double to begin the eighth. Gonzales bunted, and Mooney slipped fielding the ball. The ensuing throw went into right field and Spingola scored, with Gonzales taking second. Smith sacrificed Gonzales to third. Murray walked and runners were on the corners. A wild pitch allowed Murray to go to second, but Gonzales held up at third. On a 3 - 2 pitch Justus singled up the middle to put Tech on top 7 - 4. Ben Brewster replaced Mooney. Brewster closed out the inning but the Yellow Jackets were on top by three runs.
In the bottom of the eighth Roberts hit Schmit with a pitch and tempers flared. Roberts was pulled in favor of LHP Ben Parr. The next three scheduled batters were left-handed hitters. Lewis struck out swinging and Cieri grounded out to first. Papio was called out on a questionable strike three.
Tech puts game away in the ninth
Brewster struck out the first two hitters in the top of the ninth before plunking Spingola. Gonzales doubled to score Spingola and put Georgia Tech up by 8 - 4. It was the Jackets' seventh double of the game. Tayler Stiles relieved Brewster. Smith managed an infield hit. Murray hit a seeing-eye single through the left side to make it 9 - 4. Justus struck out to put an end to a painful top of the ninth.
LHP Sam Clay came in to try to preserve the win for Georgia Tech. Martir drew a lead-off walk. White hit a grounder that made its way into center field. Suddenly the two runs in the top of the inning loomed large. However Wade grounded into a double play. Clay hit Lowe on a 1 - 2 pitch, but the southpaw struck out Cuas to end the game.
Despite the loss, the Terrapins had a great final season in the ACC. Now it's on to the NCAA Tournament !