ATLANTA, Ga. – Gardner-Webb dropped both ends of Saturday's baseball doubleheader at No. 7 Georgia Tech, falling 14-5 and 7-3 to the Yellow Jackets.
Gardner-Webb (2-6) had eight hits in the opening game, but fell into a deep hole when Georgia Tech rattled off seven runs in a decisive third-inning rally.
The 'Dogs trailed 14-0 heading into the sixth inning, when
Curtis Robison drove home
Nate Anderson with an RBI grounder that broke up the shutout. Robison had a big blast in the top of the eighth, belting a grand slam to right to drive home
AJ Jones, Marcos and
Elijah Bowers for what would be the final margin.
Robison went 2-for-4 with five RBI to lead Gardner-Webb's offense, while Marcos (2-for-5) also had a pair of this from the leadoff spot.
Bo Rusher III,
Nick Capozzi,
Alex Ray and Bowers had one hit each.
Georgia Tech catcher Kevin Parada – a projected first round pick for June's MLB Draft – powered an 18-hit attack for the home team. Parada hit a solo home run in the bottom fo the first, kickstarting a 4-for-4 day that included two home runs, a double and six RBI.
Five other Yellow Jackets had two hits in the game.
Gardner-Webb starter
Drew Janssen (0-1) took the loss, scattering six hits and seven runs in 2.0 innings of work. He struck out a pair.
Lenny Washington provided a bright spot out of the pen, working 3.0 innings without allowing a run on three hits. Washington fanned four batters and walked just one.
Zach Maxwell (1-0) earned the win for Tech, going 6.0 innings with 11 strikeouts and only one run allowed on three hits.
Game Two
Gardner-Webb battled Georgia Tech in the nightcap, but the Yellow Jackets pulled away with three runs in the bottom of the eighth and held on for a 7-3 win.
The home squad scored three runs in the bottom of the first to push in front early, with Parada opening the door with an RBI double.
Gardner-Webb mounted a counter attack in the third, with
Alex Ray's RBI single plating
AJ Jones to trim the lead to 3-1.
Bo Rusher III doubled home
Trevor Mattson in the top of the fourth to cut the lead to 3-2, but Georgia Tech answered with a run of its own in the bottom half of the inning to go up by two runs.
Parada continued his strong weekend with the bat, padding his team's lead with a three-run double to left center with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning. That put Georgia Tech up 7-2.
Robison pulled Gardner-Webb closer with two outs in the top of the ninth, roping a double through the left side to drive home Marcos for what would be the final margin.
Gardner-Webb had eight hits in the finale, with Mattson going 2-for-2. Marcos (2-for-5), Ray (1-for-4), Robison (1-for-4, 2B, RBI), Rusher (1-for-4, 2B, RBI) and Jones (1-for-4) also had base knocks for the 'Dogs.
Gardner-Webb will stay on the road, traveling to face Charlotte on Tuesday afternoon in the Queen City. First pitch is set for 4 pm.