Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets took on the Cincinnati Bearcats at Russ Chandler Stadium in Atlanta, Ga, on Saturday, Feb. 15. The Yellow Jackets come into the season being ranked No.22 in the country by USA Today Coaches Poll. A strong fifth inning gave the defending 2019 ACC Coastal Champs enough of an edge to win 6-4.
This was the second of three home games for the Yellow Jackets on their opening weekend. Also, the second game straight scoring six runs as they beat St.Petersburg 6-0 in their season home opener.
The Yellow Jackets got off to a slow start offensively through the first four innings. In the fifth inning, they scored four runs. Yellow Jackets’ second baseman, Austin Wilhite, started the party with a single and later scored in the inning on a triple from shortstop Luke Waddell.
The Bearcats faced tough pitching and a strong Yellow Jackets’ defense for most of the game. However, in the eighth inning, the Bearcats were able to get two hits, force two errors, and score three runs for their eighth-inning rally.
The Yellow Jackets’ held the Bearcats off for the win and retiring three of three batters in the ninth inning with strikeouts. Redshirt senior Johnathan Hughes got the start and his first win for the Yellow Jackets. Hughes pitched five innings giving up five hits, one run, two strikeouts, and one walk. Redshirt junior Andy Archer came in for relief and the save. Archer had a career-high four innings pitched and a career-high seven strikeouts. The Yellow Jackets finished the game with six runs, nine hits, and two errors. Four different players had RBIs and junior left fielder Michael Guldberg went three for four with a single, double, and had one of the four RBIs on the day.
The Bearcats started senior Nathan Kroger on the mound. Kroger pitched four and one-third of the innings in the loss. He gave up five hits, two runs, and had four strikeouts. The Bearcats finished the game with four runs, seven hits, and one error. The Bearcats will look to pick up their first win in their Atlanta road trip weekend when they face Kennesaw State at Stillwell Baseball Stadium in Kennesaw, Ga on Sunday, Feb. 16. The Bearcats are trying to rebound after a 0-2 start on the season, after going 31-31 last season.
The Yellow Jackets will cap off their home-opening weekend looking to go 3-0 as they face off against St. John’s University on Sunday, Feb. 16 at Russ Chandler Stadium in Atlanta. Last season they went 26-11 at home with a 43-19 record overall looking to improve on that this season with their sights set on the College World Series in Omaha.
