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Atlanta, Ga., May 15, 2014 – Jimmy Herget tossed seven scoreless innings while the offense scored seven runs in the sixth and seventh innings to lift USF to an 8-0 win over Georgia Tech on Thursday night at Russ Chandler Stadium.
USF improves to 26-27 on the year while Georgia Tech falls to 30-24. The win was also head coach Lelo Prado's 250th win at USF and he is just two wins shy of reaching 850 for his career.
"That was probably the best game we played in about a month,” said Prado. “We got good pitching, key hitting when we needed it and played solid defense. I am proud of the guys. We need to go out tomorrow and play another good game.”
The Bulls had runners on base in each of the first two innings but were unable to capitalize before Luke Maglich got things rolling in the third with a leadoff triple. Kyle Teaf manufactured the game's first run with a groundout to the shortstop that allowed Maglich to cross the plate for a 1-0 USF lead.
Maglich also had a hand in keeping Georgia Tech off the board in the fourth as he threw out Mott Hyde at home plate for the second out of the inning before Herget induced a ground out to get out of the inning. For Maglich, it is the third time this season he has thrown out at runner at the plate.
USF tacked on to its lead in the sixth, scoring three runs to go ahead, 4-0. With the bases loaded, Zac Gilcrease singled through the right side plating Levi Borders who singled to begin the inning. The next two runs for the Bulls were forced in with bases loaded walks to Maglich and Andres Leal.
An inning later, Levi Borders again reached to start the frame, this time getting hit by a pitch. Following a single and sacrifice bunt that put runners in scoring position with one out, Austin Lueck was intentionally walked for the second time. Gilcrease made Georgia Tech pay with a two-run double into right field. Teaf forced in the third run with a bases loaded walk before the final run crossed on a wild pitch.
Georgia Tech threatened one final time in the seventh as they loaded the bases with no outs but Herget got back-to-back strikeouts before a lazy popup got him out of the jam unscathed.
Herget (7-6) finished the game allowing just five hits and walking two while striking out nine in seven innings of action. Jordan Strittmatter and Janick Serrallonga each tossed a scoreless inning to preserve the shutout.
It was the first time the Yellow Jackets have been shut out at home since March 24, 2006 when they were blanked by North Carolina, 2-0.
Offensively, Putnam and Gilcrease each had two hits as USF picked up eight in the contest. The Bulls also drew nine walks, two apiece from Teaf, Lueck and Maglich.
Josh Heddinger suffered the loss for GT falling to 3-4 on the year. He allowed one run on four hits over five innings of work. The next three relievers for the Yellow Jackets combined to allow seven runs. Thomas Smith had the lone multi-hit performance for Georgia Tech going 2-for-4.
The two sides will play game two of the series tomorrow night at Russ Chandler Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. The game can also be viewed on ESPN3.
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