Atlanta, Ga. ? Michael Fisher hit a grand slam and Matt Wieters added a two-run homer as top-seed Georgia Tech defeated no. 4 seed Stetson 7-5 in the opening round of the NCAA Atlanta Regional Saturday afternoon at Russ Chandler Stadium.
The Yellow Jackets (46-16) scored seven runs in the first three innings, then held off a late Hatter rally to stay in the winner's bracket. Georgia Tech will play Vanderbilt at 7 p.m. while the Hatters (38-23) will play Michigan in elimination game at 3 p.m.
Stetson failed to capitalize on great scoring opportunities in each of the first two innings. Tech starter Blake Wood worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the first and a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the second.
The Yellow Jackets, meanwhile, grabbed an early 2-0 lead on a two-run home run by Wieters in the bottom of the first inning.
Then in the third, Fisher hit a grand slam off of Hatter starter Corey Kluber (6-5) to cap a five-run inning. It was Fisher's first home run of the year and the 80th round tripper by Georgia Tech on the season.
Wood (10-4) made the lead hold up through seven innings, but the Hatters mounted a furious rally in the eighth. Chris Johnson singled home Braedyn Pruitt for the first Stetson run and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Adam Tindle. David Golliner doubled home Brian Bocock and run-scoring grounders by Shane Jordan and Brandon Paritz pulled Stetson to within 7-5.
The Hatters put the tying runs on base in the top of the ninth, but Wieters retired Golliner to preserve the two-run victory.
“We squandered too many opportunities early," Stetson coach Pete Dunn said. "But once it got to be 7-0 our kids didn't quit. Nery came in and did just a tremendous job. We got to get after it again and get a ?W' and come back tomorrow. Our kids are disappointed, but I think they will come out hard in this game and play well.”
Stetson outhit Georgia Tech 13-12, but the Hatters left 13 runners on base. Nathan Nery pitched 4.2 scoreless innings of relief.
Box Score
Notes: Stetson had its six-game overall winning streak and its 12-game non-conference winning streak snapped ... The Hatters had runners put out at home in each of the first two innings ... Stetson fell to 1-3 against Georgia Tech in NCAA postseason play ... The Hatters went 0-for-5 with the bases loaded ... Chris Johnson recorded his 28th multi-hit game of the year, Braedyn Pruitt, his 20th, and Brian Pruitt and Adam Tindle, their 17th each ... Brandon Paritz moved into 10th place in school history with 224 games played ... Georgia Tech improved to 30-5 at home.
