Freshman catcher Tyler Minnick executed a perfect hit and run to score Jackson Finley the inning after a Stephen Reid home run to break open a bail-biter in the fourth en route to No. 22 Georgia Tech clinching the series, 10-4 over Tennessee Tech, on Saturday afternoon at Mac Nease Baseball Park at Russ Chandler Stadium.
Reid took the first pitch of his at-bat deep for a two-run homer to tie the game at four, also giving the Yellow Jackets (5-0) their first hit of the day. Minnick then came through on a double down the left field line while a sprinting Finley scored from first.
Tech then padded its lead with eighth-inning home runs from Angelo Dispigna – a two-run shot and his second in as many days – and Jack Rubenstein – a three-run bomb for his first homer of the season.
On the mound, starter RHP Logan McGuire was unable to go past 1.1 innings due to injury, calling on RHP Aeden Finateri to provide much-needed innings. Finateri (1-0) delivered, going 4.2 innings and surrendering just one run on three hits, while striking out four and walking none to get his first decision of the year.
LHP Cody Carwile then added another shutdown inning, including a perfectly executed pickoff, before turning it over to RHP Terry Busse with a one run game in the eighth.
Busse was once again dominant, earning his third save in as many appearances, pitching six outs without a hit or walk and punching out three to slam the door.
The Golden Eagles (2-4) were led by Theo Bryant IV, who went 2-for-3 with a solo home run. LHP Reece McDuffie (0-1) received the loss, allowing four runs on four hits in three innings of relief.
