CBD Weekend Visit: Boston College vs Georgia Tech

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Game 1: Georgia Tech 12 Boston College 5

No. 14 Georgia Tech continued its hot start to the season, downing Boston College 12-5 in the first of a three game series. Senior RHP Buck Farmer picked his 4th win of the season with a 6 inning, 8 hit, 5 earned run, 7 strikeout, 3 walk performance. Farmer wasn’t his usual sharp self, as he had entered the game with just one earned run allowed all season before surrounding five to the Eagles, but his offense was able to bail him out scoring the final 8 runs of the contest. Kyle Wren, Daniel Spignola, and Zane Evans each had three-hit games, with Evans blasting his 7th home run of the season to deep right center field. Boston College starter Eric Stevens dropped to 0-4 on the season, finishing the game with a line of 5.1 IP, 11 H, 6 ER, and 4 K’s. Boston College jumped off to a 2-0 lead after picking up a run in each of the first two innings but was unable to hold onto the lead. BC has been one of the Farmer’s toughest career opponents, especially after last season’s 4.1 IP, 14 H, 11 ER performance at Commander Shea field in Boston. The Yellow Jackets improved to 7-1 all-time against the Eagles in Atlanta and 14-7 overall. In games where at least one Tech player hits a home run, the Jackets hold a 9-0 record.

Game 2: Georgia Tech 11 Boston College 3

In Saturday’s contest, the Yellow jackets cruised to an 11-3 victory, as they picked up their 16th win in 18 games. Catcher Zane Evans picked up his 8th homerun of the year, and second in as many days, and added four RBIs while extending his hitting streak to 11 games. GT junior RHP Dusty Isaacs turned in an impressive performance, with his only mistakes coming in the 4th inning when he allowed back-to-back homers to Chris Shaw and Matt Pare. Isaacs matched a career high with seven innings pitched, and gave up just four hits and struck out six, throwing 95 pitches (64 strikes). For the Yellow Jackets, freshman Matt Gonzalez, junior Kyle Wren, and senior Sam Dove also blasted homeruns as Tech finished the game with 14 hits. Boston College starter John Gorman was tagged with the loss and falls to 1-3 on the season, allowing 8 hits, and 6 earned runs in 4+ innings of work. Georgia Tech improves to an impressive 12-1 when scoring before its opposition, and 10-1 this season against righties.

Game 3: Georgia Tech 9 Boston College 1

Georgia Tech completed the three game sweep over the Eagles on Sunday with a 9-1 victory in front of a crowd of 1,029 at Russ Chandler Stadium. For the Yellow Jackets, it marks their first sweep of an ACC opponent since the 2011 season, when they also swept BC at home. Cole Pitts improved to 4-1 as he turned in a season-long 6 and 2/3 inning performance, giving up just 3 hits and one unearned run. Boston College’s Andrew Chin picked up the loss, although he turned in a solid performance, matching Pitt’s 6 and 2/3 innings, while allowing 6 hits and 3 runs (2 earned). There wasn’t much offense early on, as Tech got on the board first when OF Dylan Dore scored on an RBI single from Kyle Wren in the third inning. Boston College pulled even at one in the 4th when Tom Bourdon scampered home on an error from the first baseman A.J Murray. Mott Hyde put the Yellow Jackets ahead in the home half of the fourth, slamming a double that scored Murray. The score remained 2-1 until the 7th when Zane Evans added some insurance with a two-RBI single. Evans finished the game 2-5 with 3 RBI and a run scored. Every Tech starter recorded at least one hit, and the team finished the game with 14.

Series Thoughts

It is clear that Georgia Tech is quickly becoming a powerhouse in the ACC, as its offense continues to give opposing pitchers trouble. This weekend the Tech offense scored 32 runs and amassed a total of 44 hits, while the Eagles were held to just 9 runs over the three games. The Yellow Jackets are now 5-1 in ACC play and 17-2 overall. The upcoming week will be critical for evaluating this team’s potential, as they take on a tough Georgia Southern Tuesday evening before heading to Tallahassee for a huge 3-game series with the Seminoles. For the Eagles, the offensive woes continue, as they have yet to beat a conference opponent while having an overall record of 3-15. Eagles fans can take solace Sunday’s pitcher redshirt Andrew Chin looked impressive on the hill against the vaunted Yellow Jackets offense. Boston College has a tough matchup this upcoming weekend as it hosts #1 North Carolina in Chestnut Hill.