June 3, 2005

Box Score

ATLANTA, GA - Junior outfielder Jeff Kindel drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning and right-handed pitcher Tim Gustafson (5-2) pitched three solid innings in relief to help lead No. 5 Georgia Tech (43-16) past Furman (30-28), 5-4 in 10 innings, in the NCAA Atlanta Regional at Russ Chandler Stadium on Friday.

Furman, the region's No. 4 seed, will now face Big Conference champion and No. 3 seed Michigan in Saturday's loser's bracket game starting at noon. Georgia Tech will play No. 2 seed South Carolina, a 5-4 winner over the Wolverines on Friday, in Saturday's winner's bracket game beginning at 4:00 p.m.

The Yellow Jackets banged out 13 hits in the game, but Furman pitchers stranded 12 Georgia Tech runners until Kindel's two-out game winning single down the right field line off Paladin reliever Nick Hollstegge (2-2) plated Whit Robbins from second base.

The win marked Georgia Tech's fourth come-from-behind victory in its last five games. The loss snapped Furman's seven-game winning streak.

Furman's Matthew Betsill led the offensive charge for the Paladins, going 2-for-4, with two runs batted in and a home run. Left-handed pitcher Ryan Hodinka worked 4 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits, three runs, no earned runs and struck out two in a no decision. Right-handed closer Nick Hollstegge (2-2) took the loss on the hill for Furman, allowing one hit and one run.

After Furman took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning off a solo home run by Betsill, the Yellow Jackets answered with three unearned runs in the bottom half of the inning, highlighted by a two-out two RBI single by Greene to take a 3-1 lead.

The Jackets knocked Hodinka out of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning as We Hodges and Matt Wieters singled to put runners at first and third. The Paladins' right-handed pitcher Sam Perry recorded a fly out to right field and a ground out to second base to pitch out of the jam and keep the score 3-1 after five complete innings.

Furman tacked on an unearned run in the top of the sixth inning after two Yellow Jacket errors and Betsill drove in a run to chase Georgia Tech starter Lee Hyde out of the game. Right-handed pitcher Jordan Crews entered the contest for the Jackets on the mound with runners at first and third and one out. The Paladins' Joe Daysh drove in the second unearned run of the inning for Furman to tie the score at 3-3, and Crews retired the side with a ground out to second base.

Tech took its second lead of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning as junior catcher Andy Hawranick singled up the middle with the bases loaded and two outs to plate Hodges who reached on a single to center field as the Yellow Jackets went out in front, 4-3.

Gustafson came into the game for the Jackets in the top of the eighth inning. Furman's A.J. Davidiuk and Betsill tallied consecutive singles with one out and Case Cassedy drove in Davidiuk with a ground ball to second base to tie the game for the second time, 4-4.

Neither team managed a run in the ninth inning and the game headed to extra innings. After Tech held Furman off the scoreboard in the 10th inning, the Yellow Jackets' Kindel laced a base hit off the right field wall to drive in freshman first baseman Whit Robbins, who drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a fielder's choice, to lift Tech over the Paladins, 5-4.