No. 8 Georgia Tech Erases Six-Run Deficit To Claim 11-8 Victory Over Duke

Saturday, May 13

Atlanta, Ga.

7:00 PM

Duke University

Georgia Tech

Blue Devils Enjoy Success In Collegiate Baseball Summer Leagues

No. 8 Georgia Tech Erases Six-Run Deficit To Claim 11-8 Victory Over Duke

5/13/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

By: Duke Sports Information

ATLANTA, Ga. ? The Duke Blue Devils got a pair of home runs from first baseman Nate Freiman but it wasn't enough as the eighth-ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets battled back from an early six-run deficit to claim an 11-8 victory over Duke on Saturday night at Russ Chandler Stadium. The Blue Devils fall to 14-38 overall and 6-23 in the ACC while the Yellow Jackets improve to 38-13 overall and 16-10 in league play.

Duke took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second. After third baseman Adam Murray lined a two-out single through the right side, catcher Matt Williams drove the first pitch he saw over the wall in right center for his first career home run.

The Blue Devils would then score four runs in the top of the third to extend their lead to 6-0. After back-to-back singles to left by left fielder Daniel Palmer and center fielder Jimmy Gallagher, pitcher Jonathan Anderson reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Shortstop Brett Bartles then laced a two-run single up the middle to score Palmer and Gallagher. Following a double steal by Anderson and Bartles, second baseman Javier Socorro was intentionally walked to load the bases for the second time in the inning. Murray then capped the frame with a two-run single down the left field line, scoring Anderson and Bartles.

Georgia Tech scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth to cut the deficit to 6-2. Third baseman Whit Robbins put the Yellow Jackets on the board with a two-out solo home run to right field. First baseman Luke Murton followed with a double to left center before scoring on an RBI-single by right fielder Wally Crancer.

With one out in the top of the fifth, Freiman connected on the first pitch he saw and sent a solo shot over the right field wall to give Duke a 7-2 lead.

The Yellow Jackets answered with five runs in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game at 7-7. Shortstop Michael Fisher doubled to left to lead off the inning before scoring on an RBI-double by second baseman Mike Trapani. Following a walk to center fielder Steven Blackwood, designated hitter Matt Wieters flew out to center to advance Trapani to third. Left fielder Jeff Kindel then roped an RBI-single to right to score Trapani. After Robbins drew a walk to load the bases, Murton reached on a hard-hit grounder that bounced past Murray at third, scoring Blackwood and Kindel and moving Robbins to third. Crancer then capped the inning with a sacrifice fly to left to score Robbins.

Georgia Tech took their first lead of the night in the bottom of the sixth. Fisher lined a leadoff double to right before advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt by Trapani. Blackwood then grounded out to short, allowing Fisher to score to give the Yellow Jackets an 8-7 lead.

The Yellow Jackets added a run in the bottom of the seventh to take a 9-7 lead. After Kindel drew a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch, he moved to third on a fly out to center by Robbins. Murton then lifted a sacrifice fly to left to score Kindel.

In the top of the eighth, Freiman turned on a 2-2 offering and sent his second home run of the night sailing over the left field wall to make it a 9-8 ballgame. It was the second multi-homer game of the season for Freiman.

Wieters added a two-run double in the bottom of the eighth to extend the Yellow Jackets lead to 11-8.

Georgia Tech starter David Duncan improved to 7-2 on the season despite giving up seven runs on nine hits in 6.1 innings of work. Jared Hyatt earned his second save of the year, allowing only one run on Freiman's solo homer in 2.2 innings of relief.

Duke reliever Jim Perry fell to 0-6 on the season after allowing two runs on one hit in 2.0 innings.

Freiman, Anderson and Murray collected two hits apiece to lead Duke at the plate.

Trapani and Fisher both had a pair of hits to lead Georgia Tech in the win.

The Blue Devils and Yellow Jackets will conclude their three-game series tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. Duke will then return to the diamond for their final two games of the season on Tuesday and Wednesday, hosting UNC Asheville at Jack Coombs Field.

-d-u-k-e-