Robbins? 10th-Inning Walk-Off Double Lifts No. 8 Georgia Tech To 7-6 Win Over Duke

Friday, May 12

Atlanta, Ga.

7:00 PM

Duke University

Georgia Tech

Palmer, Socorro and Freiman Named To All-ACC Academic Baseball Team

Robbins? 10th-Inning Walk-Off Double Lifts No. 8 Georgia Tech To 7-6 Win Over Duke

5/12/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

By: Duke Sports Information

ATLANTA, Ga. ? First baseman Whit Robbins broke a 6-6 tie in the bottom of the 10th with a walk-off double to lift No. 8 Georgia Tech to a thrilling 7-6 win over Duke on Friday night at Russ Chandler Stadium. The Blue Devils fall to 14-37 overall and 6-22 in the ACC while the Yellow Jackets improve to 37-13 overall and 15-10 in league play.

With one out in the 10th, left fielder Jeff Kindel reached on a hard-hit grounder that found its way into right field. Robbins then lined the game-winner into the left center field gap to give the Yellow Jackets the 7-6 victory.

Georgia Tech took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when center fielder Steven Blackwood sent a 2-2 offering deep to right center for a leadoff home run.

Duke would tie the game at 1-1 in the top of the third. Catcher Matt Williams reached on an error by shortstop Michael Fisher before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by left fielder Daniel Palmer. Williams would then move to third on a groundout by right fielder Jimmy Gallagher. Center fielder Jonathan Anderson then lined an RBI-single across the top of the mound under pitcher Blake Wood's glove to score Williams.

The Yellow Jackets answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third to take a 3-1 lead. With one on and two out, right fielder Wally Crancer laced an RBI-single up the middle to plate third baseman Brad Feltes. Catcher Matt Wieters followed with an RBI-double to left center to score Crancer.

The Blue Devils would score three times in the top of the fourth to take a 4-3 lead. After first baseman Nate Freiman was hit by a pitch, second baseman Javier Socorro hit a towering two-run shot to left center on a 2-0 pitch for his first home run of the season. Three batters later, Palmer dropped an RBI-double into the left center field gap to score third baseman Adam Murray from first.

Duke added a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to extend their lead to 6-3. After Gallagher singled to second, Anderson reached on a bunt single to give the Blue Devils runners on first and second. Two batters later, designated hitter Jonathan Nicolla drew a walk to load the bases. Freiman then lined a two-run single past a diving Fisher in the hole at short to score Gallagher and Anderson.

Blackwood hit his second home run of the night in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at 6-6. After designated hitter Luke Murton singled to right, second baseman Mike Trapani was hit by a pitch. Both runners then moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt by Fisher. Three batters later, Blackwood turned on a 1-0 offering and sent it sailing over the right field wall for a three-run homer.

Georgia Tech reliever Tim Ladd was the beneficiary of Robbins' walk-off double as he improved to 5-3 on the season.

Duke reliever Andrew Wolcott fell to 1-4 on the year, allowing one unearned run on two hits in 2.1 innings of work.

Anderson led the Blue Devils at the plate, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Socorro, Gallagher and Palmer added two hits apiece for Duke.

Crancer went 3-for-5 and Blackwood collected a pair of home runs and four RBI to lead Georgia Tech in the win.

The Blue Devils and Yellow Jackets will continue their three-game series tomorrow night at 7 p.m.

-d-u-k-e-