Georgia Tech's explosive offense rallies late, overturning an early deficit to secure a thrilling comeback victory.
Georgia Tech starter Tate McKee took the mound on Thursday night against Florida State and promptly retired the side to start the game off for the Yellow Jackets, including two strikeouts.
But in the second inning, the Seminoles' bats came to life. Right fielder John Steutzer cranked out an RBI double, and then third baseman Cal Fisher deposited the baseball beyond the left-field wall to give No. 5 Florida State (24-9, 9-4 ACC) a 3-0 lead.
No. 3 Georgia Tech (28-5, 13-3) got a solo home run from Will Baker to put the Yellow Jackets on the scoreboard. But Wes Mendes and Florida State looked to have thrown a monkey wrench into the offensive machine of the Yellow Jackets and took a 3-1 lead on the road against one of the top offensive teams in college baseball.
Mendes was in control on the mound for the Seminoles, his change-up tamping down the usually highly productive bats of Georgia Tech.
After five innings of work, and his pitch count at 114, Mendes was pulled. He gave up four hits, one earned run, three walks and struck out nine batters. Ace reliever John Abraham (0.61 ERA) came in and inherited two base runners. That is when the Florida State hype train, loaded with momentum, came off the rails.
In the bottom of the sixth, Georgia Tech’s Carson Kerce beat out an infield hit that scored a run to make the score 3-2 with one out and runners at the corners.
After a balk, Abraham threw a wild pitch that allowed the tying run to score and Kerce to advance to third, beating the throw by Seminoles catcher Hunter Carnes.
Georgia Tech added another run on a bloop single that fell between Florida State second baseman Noah Sheffield and Stuetzer. The Yellow Jackets took the lead for the first time in the game at 4-3 as they went into the seventh inning.
In the seventh, reliever Mason Patel replaced McKee. McKee struck out seven batters, walked two, gave up three earned runs and allowed four hits on the night for Georgia Tech.
With two outs, Fisher reached on a hit by a pitch. Fisher was the first base runner for the Seminoles since the second inning, as Georgia Tech pitching retired 15 consecutive Florida State hitters. Fisher was left stranded.
With two outs in the Yellow Jackets half of the seventh, Abraham gave up a walk and an infield single to put runners at first and second for Georgia Tech. Abraham gave up another walk to load the bases with two outs as the Yellow Jackets were able to extend the inning.
The Florida State bullpen was buzzing with activity as Abraham stayed in the game after a visit from pitching coach Micah Posey. Abraham and the Seminoles were able to get out of the jam to end the inning.
In the Florida State half of the eighth inning, Seminoles center fielder Brayden Dowd doubled and then advanced to third, but was left stranded.
Abraham was pulled from the game in the bottom of the eighth inning after two innings and 55 pitches, and was replaced by Jake Echols with a runner on first. Echols threw a wild pitch to advance that runner down to second. Then on a hit down toward first base, there seemed to be confusion on who would cover the bag. Echols committed to that task, but the throw was late by half a step, and the Yellow Jackets had runners at the corners with two outs.
Echols was gone and replaced by reliever Cade O’Leary. O’Leary got the job done, retiring Georgia Tech right fielder Alex Hernandez to neutralize the threat headed into the ninth inning.
Florida State left fielder Chase Williams reached safely on an infield hit. Stuetzer then singled to left and Williams advanced to second as the Seminoles had two aboard with one out.
On a double steal, Williams stole third base and Stuetzer stole second. Fisher hit a tapper back to the mound. Patel threw to first to get Fisher out and Georgia Tech first baseman Kent Schmidt threw to the plate to get Williams, representing the tying run, out at the plate to end the game, and the Yellow Jackets survived the rally to earn a hard fought 4-3 win.
Florida State, at times, looked like a team that was out of sorts. Misplaying a fly ball in foul territory, short-hopping throws to first base, allowing fly balls to drop in between fielders, wild pitches allowing runners to advance, a balk to advance the runners, all was testament to a team that has now lost two consecutive games and continues to struggle at the plate.
Abraham (1-1) took the loss for the Seminoles. McKee (6-0) got the win for Georgia Tech. Patel secured his third save of the season.
Game 2 is set for Friday. Pitcher Trey Beard (3-0) will start for Florida State. Georgia Tech will counter with Porter Buursema (0-1).
How to Watch
Date: Friday, April 10
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Russ Chandler Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
TV: ACC Network
Radio: 100.7 FM WFLA
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