University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
16-30, 6-19
Georgia Tech
31-17, 12-13
Baseball Downed by Georgia Tech in Series Opener
5/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
ATLANTA -- Georgia Tech (31-17, 12-13 ACC) hit a pair of home runs and rode a strong starting performance to victory over the Pitt baseball team (16-30, 6-19 ACC) in their series opener Friday night at Russ Chandler Stadium,
Sophomore starter T.J. Zeuch climbed into the top-10 in Pitt history for strikeouts in a single season. His 83 punch-outs this year ranks 9th all-time, passing the likes of Dave Welty (80, 1968) and Robert Brant (82, 2007; 80, 2006). He will likely have another opportunity to add to his total next weekend.
Jacob Wright extended his reached-base streak to a team-best 33 games and has hit safely in 21 of his last 23 games.
Zeuch (4-6, 4.26) received the loss after allowing nine runs, eight earned, nine hits, and four walks over 4.1 innings. He recorded four strikeouts. His eight earned runs marks a new career high, while four walks matches it.
For the Yellow Jackets, starter Jonathan King (4-3, 3.29) earned the win for his 7.0 innings of three-hit ball, allowing just one unearned run and no walks while striking out seven.
All three of Pitt's hits today were doubles, with redshirt sophomore Jacob Wright, senior Jordan Frabasilio, and senior Eric Hess each chipping in one apiece.
Pitt got on the board quickly after Wright chalked up his fifth double of the year on a 1-1 pitch in the first at bat of the contest.  With the knock, Wright improved his average leading off his last 24 ballgames to .545 (12-22). Freshman Charles LeBlanc then brought him home for Wright's 10th time coming around to score in that situation during that span.
Georgia Tech answered quickly in the bottom of the first when Keenan Innis led off the home half with a triple and scored on an RBI groundout. Kel Johnson then homered following a walk by A.J. Murray to make it 3-1, Yellow Jackets.
GT would go on to add two runs in the second, fourth, and fifth innings in part thanks to belting its second two-run home run, to push its lead to 9-1.
Jonathan King settled in for the Yellow Jackets after surrendering a run in the first inning. He held the Panthers out of the hit column until Hess doubled to right in the fifth.
Pitt's relief corps showed well in extended duty today, compiling 3.2 innings of two-hit, shutout work from freshmen Josh Mitchell and Isaac Mattson
The Panthers were eliminated from ACC Tournament contention prior to tonight's game.
Game two of the series is set for tomorrow at 1 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: King, J (4-3)
L: Zeuch, T.J. (4-6)
Batting:
2B: Wright, Jacob 1 ; Frabasilio, Jordan 1 ; Hess, Eric 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Wright, Jacob 1
Batting:
2B: Murray, A 1
3B: Innis, K 1
HR: Murray, A 1 ; Johnson, K 1
RBI: Innis, K 1 ; Bailey, W 3 ; Murray, A 3 ; Johnson, K 2
SF: Bailey, W 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Innis, K 2 ; Gonzalez, M 1 ; Murray, A 2 ; Johnson, K 1 ; Peurifoy, R 1 ; Pabst, A 1 ; Justus, C 1
SB: Peurifoy, R 1
