Georgia Tech Splits Doubleheader With North Carolina

Georgia Tech drops the series against the Tar Heels this weekend

Author:
Jackson Caudell
Publish date:
Apr 7, 2023 7:08 PM EDT

After dropping the first game of the series by seven runs last night, Georgia Tech was hoping to take both games in the doubleheader in Atlanta today.

Luke Schmolke was back on the mound for Georgia Tech today and the last time we saw him, he had a great start in the win over Boston College and was hoping for a similar outing today.

Here is how Tech lined up in Game One:

1. 2B- Kristian Campbell

2. CF- Jake DeLeo

3. RF- Stephen Reid

4. IF- Angelo Dispigna

5. DH- Jackson Finley

6. C- Jack Rubenstein

7. 1B- John Geisler

8. 3B-Nicholas Romano

9. SS- Jadyn Jackson

Schmolke sat down the Tar Heel batters 1-2-3 to start the game and then the Yellow Jackets' bats went down in order.

Campbell started the day off with a leadoff double to get a runner on base, but it looked like he was going to get left stranded on base after DeLeo and Reid struck out. Dispigna came through with an RBI double though and Tech led 1-0 after the first inning.

Schmolke gave up a leadoff single and then walked a batter to put two on base before UNC scored their first run of the game on an RBI single to tie the game. Another RBI single in the inning gave the Tar Heels the lead.

After not scoring any runs in the bottom of the 2nd, Tech proceeded to give up two more runs to the Tar Heels to put them down 4-1 and both runs came with two outs. Schmolke walked the next three batters and then another RBI single scored the two runs to stretch the lead to three.

Tech got three runners on base in the bottom of the third but was unable to do anything with them.

Schmolke walked the first two batters of the 4th inning and was done for the day. Aeden Finateri came in the game to try and limit the damage that was done and for the three innings that he pitched, Schmolke allowed five runs on four hits and he walked six batters. It was a big step down from his previous outing.

Finateri was not able to contain North Carolina however. A runner reached first to load the bases and then a bases-loaded walk made it a 5-1 lead for UNC. They were not done though. A 2-RBI single made it 7-1 and then another RBI single pushed the lead to 8-1. It was another disappointing start for Georgia Tech, in a game they needed to win.

Finateri only got one inning and the Josiah Siegel came into the game in the 5th and got a 1-2-3 inning.

After another scoreless inning for Tech, Siegel had another strong inning in the 6th and kept the game at a seven-run deficit and that is when Georgia Tech made a small run.

Back-to-back singles from Dispigna and Finley set up an RBI single from Rubenstein to make it 8-2 and then Giesler had an RBI double to cut the lead to five runs 8-3. A pitching change for UNC resulted in two quick outs, but a walk from Campbell gave way to a 2-RBI double from DeLeo to make it a three-run game 8-5. Tech had all of the momentum and the offense was finally clicking for the first time all series.

That momentum was fleeting though. A two-run home run with two outs from UNC was the difference the rest of the game and made it 10-5.

Tech would score one more run in the game to make it 10-6, but they dropped the series and the first game of the double header.

Kristian Campbell hit — Georgia Tech dropped game one against North Carolina
GT Baseball

Game Two

Jackson Finley took the mound for the series finale and the lineup shifted just a little for the second game of the day:

1. CF- Jake DeLeo

2. 2B- Kristian Campbell

3. RF- Stephen Reid

4. IF- Angelo Dispigna

5. DH- Jackson Finley

6. 1B- John Geisler

7. 3B-Nico Senese

8. SS- Jadyn Jackson

9. C- Tyler Minnick

DeLeo was back to the leadoff spot, Minnick was the catcher for game two, and Senese played third.

Things did not start off well for Finley on the mound.

UNC got a leadoff single and then a runner reached on a fielder's choice and stole second to give them a runner in scoring position. An RBI single gave the Tar Heels one run and then the bases were loaded with two outs. Finley got the last out and kept any more damage from being done, but it was not the start he was looking for in game two of the doubleheader.

Tech got a pair of hits in the bottom of the inning, but the offense could not advance them, which was the norm for the weekend.

UNC went back to work against Finley at the top of the inning. After two quick outs, Finley gave up a single and then the runner got to second on a wild pitch. An RBI double drove the runner in to give UNC a 2-0 lead. Two out hits were detrimental to Georgia Tech in this series and today was no different. Ben King replaced Finley after just 1.2 IP and he got the last out of the inning.

After an unproductive 2nd inning for the offense, King did well in the 3rd to get a quick 1-2-3 inning.

Georgia Tech finally got things going on offense at the bottom of the third.

DeLeo got on base due to a throwing error and then Campbell singled to give the Yellow Jackets two runners on with no outs. Reid came through with a big three run homer to take the lead 3-2.

Jett Lovett was pinch-hitting for Finley and singled to load the bases. A sac fly from Giesler made it 4-2 and then Senese hit an RBI single to extend the lead to 5-2 before UNC made yet another pitching change.

Both teams went scoreless in the fourth inning before North Carolina closed the gap in the 5th.

Jackson Vaughan came in to pitch for King and started his night off by giving up a leadoff double and then a failed pickoff attempt moved the runner to third. North Carolina had an RBI double the next at bat and made it a 5-3 game. Vaughan got three straight outs after that, but the game was closer.

With the lead cut to 5-3, Georgia Tech needed to put some more runs together and their offense did just that. Back-to-back singles from Giesler and Senese. Jackson hit a single and then an error allowed Giesler to score to make it 6-3. A sac bunt from Minnick pushed the lead to 7-3 and then an RBI single from Campbell gave Tech its eighth run of the game.

Vaughan got two outs in the 6th before walking the third batter and his night was done. Camron Hill came in to finish the inning and he did so without surrendering a hit.

GT got two hits from Brandon Prince and Dispigna, but they were left stranded.

Tech gave up one run in the 7th, but they were able to close out the Tar Heels and win the final game of the series.

The Yellow Jackets are now 19-13 and 7-8 in the ACC.

Georgia Tech will be back on the field Tuesday in a rematch from a non-conference game earlier this season. Georgia Tech is going to get a chance to beat Auburn after losing in extra innings. The game is set for a 6:00 p.m. start.

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