Georgia Tech's roaring home crowd fuels a commanding win as Florida State's offense falters, extending their losing streak.
Georgia Tech fans and the student section made their presence felt in Game 2 against Florida State on Friday night at Russ Chandler Stadium in Atlanta.
Despite a solo home run to center field by Seminoles right fielder and freshman phenom John Stuetzer to give Florida State an early 1-0 lead, that student section never sat down.
With their "10th man" cheering section behind them, No. 3 Georgia Tech (29-5, 14-3) posted an 8-3 victory over No. 5 Florida State (24-10, 9-5) to win the ACC series. It was Florida State鈥檚 third consecutive loss and the first conference series loss this season.
Florida State went 0-5 with runners in scoring position and 1-for-12 with runners on base.
The Seminoles were held scoreless from the third inning until the seventh, when first baseman Eli Putnam blasted a solo home run to deep right field to cut the Yellow Jackets lead to 4-2.
Florida State's offensive rankings in the ACC at this point in the season are telling about what's ailing the Noles:
路 Runs per game: 7.7 -- 10th in ACC
路 Batting Average: .281 -- 12th in ACC
路 Home Runs: 40 -- 12th in ACC
路 OPS: .858 -- 13th in ACC
路 Strikeout Rate: 24 percent, last in the ACC
That third inning was unkind for Florida State starting pitcher Trey Beard (3-1), part of a Seminoles pitching rotation that has won multiple ACC Pitcher of the Week awards. Beard lost control of his pitches and twice found himself in bases-loaded jams, which resulted in Georgia Tech exploding for four runs.
Center fielder Drew Burress led off with a single for the Yellow Jackets, extending his hitting streak to nine games.
Georgia Tech right fielder Alex Hernandez belted a two-run single, and Ryan Zuckerman belted a two-RBI double.
In the eighth inning, the Yellow Jackets threatened again as Florida State reliever Brodie Purcell walked Burress to load the bases with two outs. Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey slapped a two-out single to plate two more runs to make the score 6-2.
The Yellow Jackets scored two more runs on second baseman Jarren Advincula鈥檚 single up the middle to score Burress. Lackey advanced to third base, then scored on a throwing error that landed at the base of the Georgia Tech dugout to make the score 8-2.
In the last chance half of the ninth for Florida State, Stuetzer launched a mammoth 422-foot home run deep into the night sky to make the score 8-3. It was Stuetzer鈥檚 second home run of the night.
The four-run innings in the third and eighth for Georgia Tech were the death nell for the Seminoles. Despite 10 strikeouts by the Florida State pitching staff, their hurlers were beat up all night. The Georgia Tech bats were, and are, as advertised with 12 hits on the night.
With the win, Georgia Tech has won nine straight series this season. Georgia Tech pitching combined for 13 strikeouts, and Caden Gaudette (3-1) got the win for the Yellow Jackets, and Dylan Loy earned his first save.
Beard (3-1) took the loss for the Seminoles, his first of the season. He gave up eight hits, four earned runs, two walks and six strikeouts in four innings of work. Beard threw 86 pitches in the game.
Game 3 is set for Saturday. Bryson Moore will be on the mound for the Seminoles.
How to Watch
Date: Saturday, April 11
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Location: Russ Chandler Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Streaming: ACC Extra
Radio: 100.7 FM WFLA
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