THE FLATS – Atlantic Coast Conference member Georgia Tech (29-23) beat Southeast Missouri (23-28), 8-5, Tuesday night in midweek action at Russ Chandler Stadium.
After SEMO battled back from a four-run deficit and tied the game on a solo home run by Trevor Ezell with two outs in the top of the fifth inning, the Yellow Jackets regained the lead and never looked back.
Georgia Tech quickly answered with an RBI-double by Kyle McCann and a run scoring single by Colin Hall to take a 6-4 advantage in the bottom of the fifth.
The Yellow Jackets added two more runs with the help of an error and two-out base hit by Joey Bart in the eighth inning.
Georgia Tech scored twice in the first and second innings to build its early four-run lead.
Danny Wright, who led off the third inning with a single, eventually scored SEMO's first run when Tristen Gagan grounded into a double play. Justin Dirden later slugged a two-run home run to make it a one-run game with two outs. For Dirden, it was his team-high 14th home run of the season.
Wesley Pyles (0-1) suffered his first loss of the season. Pyles recorded a career-high six strikeouts and walked one in 3.1 innings out of the bullpen. He also allowed two runs on two hits.
Jared Datoc (1-3) picked up the win in relief. Datoc gave up one run on three hits, struck out two and walked none in three innings.
Jonathan Hughes earned the save, his first of the season. Hughes worked the final three frames, allowing one run on four hits.
SEMO outhit Georgia Tech, 10-9.
Chase Urhahn, Devon Wilson and Peyton Faulkner led the Redhawks with two hits each. Wilson, who extended his hitting streak to eight games, finished with multiple hits for the third-straight contest.
Defensively, the Redhawks committed three errors.
SEMO closes out the regular season with a three-game series at Eastern Kentucky, beginning Thursday.
