Baseball continues to struggle

After starting the season 1-2, Tech split the four games this week to bring their record to 3-4 on the season. This is the latest that Tech has been below .500 in a season since 1999. That season, Tech went 38-20, but was not selected for the NCAA Tournament.

This season is tied for the second worst start in Head Coach Danny Hall's career with the Jackets. In 1996, Tech started the season 3-9 before rebounding for a 40-24 record.

Friday: Tech-11, UIC-2

Riding the momentum of a walk-off home run against Kennesaw State, Tech took it to the Flames of the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC) last Friday evening, 11-2.

Starting pitcher David Duncan (1-1, 4.91), who had a rough outing in the season opener against Georgia Southern on Feb. 10, had a very strong performance.

He allowed just one hit in six shutout innings to pick up his first victory of the season.

Freshman Curtis Dupart went 3-for-4 on Friday with two doubles and a triple while driving in two runs.

"It's different coming down to the south from the Pacific Northwest, but coming in here and starting as a freshman is an honor," Dupart said. "I'm going to play my hardest and we will see how it turns out."

The Jackets collected eight extra-base hits Friday evening.

Saturday: UIC-11, Tech- 4

Saturday's match-up started out as more of the same for Tech, as the Jackets jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Leading 4-2 going into the ninth inning, Tech was unable to close the door as they allowed the Flames to score 9 unearned runs in the top of the ninth inning.

Brad Rulon came on to try to save the game for the Jackets in the ninth with a 4-2 lead. With runners on first and second and two outs, UIC's Jake Carr hit a ground ball at shortstop Michael Fisher which looked like it would end the game and give Tech a victory.

However, the ball took a bad hop, either off the infield dirt or possibly off of the foot of impeding base runner Nick Rainwater, and was misplayed by Fisher, allowing two runs to score on the play.

The inning then continued to worsen as UIC scored seven more runs in the frame. Tech allowed four hits, two walks, threw a wild pitch and committed another error after the initial error which accounted for the nine runs. It was an uneventful bottom of the ninth inning as the Jackets were retired in order.

Starting pitcher and senior Ryan Turner (0-1, 3.38) pitched six innings and allowed two runs on seven hits while striking out five and walking two.

Every Tech position player had a base hit in the game while Luke Murton, Jeff Ussery and Dupart paced the Tech attack with two hits each.

"There have been some good things and there have been some things that haven't been so good, but we have a lot of work to do," Hall said. "We're playing a lot of young guys and some of our upperclassmen have gotten off to a slow start. There are some things that we have to get better at, but all you can do is keep working hard and trying to get better."

Sunday: GT- 6, UIC- 3

The Jackets were able to bounce back on Sunday, as they picked up a 6-3 win to clinch the series and pull back up to an even 3-3 record on the season.

"I told the team that I wanted them to play hard," Hall said. "I think the one thing we can control is how hard we play and I thought we played a lot harder [Sunday] and concentrated a lot harder and played nine innings."

Sophomore starter Chris Hicks (0-0, 12.46) struggled for the second consecutive outing. He pitched 3 and 1/3 innings and allowed one run on one hit and struck out three, but that is where the good news ended.

Hicks walked six batters, hit two more batters, threw a wild pitch and threw just 37 strikes as opposed to 41 balls on the afternoon.

In his previous outing against Kennesaw State, he allowed five runs on six hits, but did not get out of the first inning.

"To his credit, [Hicks] made pitches and pitched out of trouble when he had to," Hall said. "He has to keep working to get better. He is a good talent and he is working hard to get there."

Sophomore reliever Michael Hutts and junior Matt Wieters combined to pitch the final 5 and 1/3 innings, allowing just two runs on two hits. Crancer, who had missed the three previous games due to a slight hamstring injury, had three hits, including a two-run home run, to pace the Tech offense.

"We just have to keep playing our game," said senior co-captain Wally Crancer. "We have a lot of freshmen playing, but sooner or later they will get enough games under their belt to shake their nerves."

"The hamstring feels good. I've been ready for the past couple of days but I wanted to give it a rest so that it wouldn't get aggravated. I've felt really comfortable at the plate."

Wednesday: Ga St.- 9, Tech 5

Freshman pitcher Zach Von Tersch struggled early. Tersch allowed six runs on six hits in just two innings of work in the first outing of his collegiate career. He also hit a batter and threw three wild pitchers. Tech was never able to climb out of the early hole as Georgia State won just their seventh game in the 55 game series 9-5.

Four Tech pitchers, including Jared Hyatt, Brad Rulon, Tim Ladd and Eddie Burns, combined to pitch the final seven innings and allowing three runs on eight hits.

Offensively the Jackets were paced by junior center fielder Danny Payne, who went 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored, and senior co-captain Wally Crancer, who went 2-for-5 with a run driven in and a run scored.

Georgia State got off to an early 1-0 lead on a solo home run from shortstop Chase Childers.

Tech responded with four runs in the bottom half of the first inning with an RBI double from Crancer, a sacrifice fly from Luke Murton and a two-run home run from junior shortstop Michael Fisher.

The Panthers immediately with five runs of their own in the next half inning on five base hits and a sacrifice fly.

Tech returns to action today at 4 p.m. as they open up a three game series against Duquesne at Russ Chandler Stadium.