Feb. 24, 2008 | Box Score

Four-Run Eighth Vaults Yellow Jackets to 5-1 Victory in Series Finale

    Atlanta -- Georgia Tech scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth to break a 1-1 tie and defeat Youngstown State 5-1 on Sunday afternoon at Russ Chandler Stadium.
    For the second straight day, the Penguins stood toe-to-toe with the 25th-ranked Yellow Jackets the entire game. YSU led 1-0 at one point and was deadlocked with Tech in hits and runs before the eighth.
    Chase Burnette led off with a pinch hit single and advanced to second on Chris House's sacrifice bunt. After Derek Dietrich reached on an infield single, Burnette scored from third when the relay was low to first on Charlie Blackmon's potential inning-ending double play.
    Luke Murton singled through the right side to put runners at the corners, and Curtis Dupart hit a pinch-hit, two-run double down the right field line to make the score 4-1. Dupart then scored when Patrick Long's grounder to second was bobbled for the final tally.
    YSU starter Aaron Swenson yielded only one run on a solo homer in the second to Tony Plagman in seven innings of work. The sophomore righty allowed five hits, struck out four and retired Tech in order in three innings.
    Reliever Ryan Sellman was charged with the first two runs in the eighth in a losing effort.
    "We had another outstanding starting pitching effort from Aaron," head coach Rich Pasquale said. "I'm proud of our effort all weekend, but we're still 0-3. We need to execute better and just continue to stay positive."
    "Guys are playing hard, and that's what we want. We played hard, and we played the whole time feeling that we could win the game."
    "You just can't say enough about our pitching this weekend."
    Brad Rulon earned the win for the Yellow Jackets by striking out two hitters in a scoreless eighth. Starter Zach Von Tersch allowed one run on four hits and a walk while striking out five.
    The Penguins took their first lead of the series in the second when they collected three of their five hits. Dustin Wachter and Eric Marzec singled to start the inning, and Sean Lucas hit a two-out single to left to plate Wachter.
    YSU had the leadoff man on in four other innings but couldn't string anything together.
    YSU will play a three-game series against Pittsburgh at V.A. Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe, Ohio, starting with Saturday doubleheader at 1 p.m.