Nine-Run Sixth Sparks No. 8 Georgia Tech To 18-6 Win Over Duke

Sunday, May 14

Atlanta, Ga.

1:00 PM

Duke University

Georgia Tech

Tonight?s Duke-Davidson Baseball Game Postponed Due To Rain

Nine-Run Sixth Sparks No. 8 Georgia Tech To 18-6 Win Over Duke

5/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

By: Duke Sports Information

ATLANTA, Ga. ? Third baseman Whit Robbins broke a 6-6 tie in the bottom of the sixth with a sacrifice fly and three Duke errors led to seven unearned runs in a nine-run inning as No. 8 Georgia Tech defeated the Blue Devils, 18-6, on Sunday afternoon at Russ Chandler Stadium. Duke falls to 14-39 overall and 6-24 in the ACC while the Yellow Jackets improve to 39-13 overall and 17-10 in league play.

With the score knotted at 6-6 entering the bottom of the sixth, catcher Matt Wieters led off with a double to right before advancing to third on a single by left fielder Jeff Kindel. Robbins then lifted a sacrifice fly to the right field warning track to score Wieters. Designated hitter Wes Hodges followed with a single through the left side to give Georgia Tech runners on first and second. Kindel and Hodges would both move up a base on a wild pitch. After first baseman Luke Murton drew a walk to load the bases, right fielder Wally Crancer reached on an error that allowed Kindel and Hodges to score. Shortstop Michael Fisher then reached on another Duke error, allowing Murton to score. Two batters later, center fielder Steven Blackwood lined an RBI-single to right to plate Crancer. Wieters then reached on the third Duke error of the inning which allowed Fisher to cross the plate. Kindel followed with a two-run double into the left center field gap, scoring Blackwood and Wieters. Robbins then capped the frame with an RBI-triple off the center field wall to give the Yellow Jackets a 15-6 lead.

Duke scored a pair of runs in the opening frame to take a 2-0 lead. Pitcher Jimmy Gallagher drew a leadoff walk before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by center fielder Jonathan Anderson. After shortstop Brett Bartles walked on five pitches, first baseman Nate Freiman lined an RBI-single into the right center field gap, scoring Gallagher and moving Bartles to third. Bartles would then score on an RBI-groundout by second baseman Javier Socorro to cap the inning.

Georgia Tech would tie the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the third. Second baseman Mike Trapani led off the inning with a ground-rule double that bounced into Duke's bullpen along the right field line. Blackwood followed with an RBI-double down the left field line to put the Yellow Jackets on the board. After Wieters flew out to center to advance Blackwood to third, Kindel drew a walk to give Georgia Tech runners on the corners. Robbins then capped the frame with an RBI-single through the left side.

The Blue Devils would retake the lead with a three-run fourth. Following a leadoff single by Freiman, Socorro reached on a throwing error by Fisher. Third baseman Adam Murray then moved both runners up a base with a sacrifice bunt. Catcher Matt Williams followed with an RBI-single to center to score Freiman. Right fielder Jonathan Nicolla then laced an RBI-double to right, scoring Socorro and moving Williams to third. Left fielder Daniel Palmer capped the inning by scoring Williams with a squeeze play, giving Duke a 5-2 lead.

The Yellow Jackets answered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game at 5-5. After Murton drew a leadoff walk and Crancer was hit by a pitch, Fisher singled off of Gallagher to load the bases. Trapani then drew a bases-loaded walk to score Murton. Two batters later, Wieters roped a two-run single to left, scoring Crancer and Fisher.

Georgia Tech took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth. After being hit by a pitch to start the inning, Murton advanced to second on a groundout out by Crancer. Two batters later, Trapani laced a ground-rule double that dropped inside the right field line before bouncing into the Duke bullpen to score Murton.

Duke scored a run in the top of the sixth to tie the game at 6-6. Williams led off the frame with a single to center field. Following a walk to Nicolla, Palmer moved both runners up a base with a sacrifice bunt. Gallagher then sent a high chopper down the first base line to score Williams.

Pinch hitter Jason Haniger had an RBI-single and Robbins added a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth to cap the scoring at 18-6.

Brad Rulon improved to 4-0 on the season, working 1.2 scoreless innings of relief.

Duke reliever Andrew Wolcott fell to 1-5 after allowing four runs on four hits in 2.0 innings of work.

The Blue Devils will return to the diamond for their final two games of the season on Tuesday and Wednesday, hosting UNC Asheville at Jack Coombs Field.

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