Southern, Savannah State and #1 F$U visit

[MWBATL]

So as long as we play well (2 or less errors in the series), get solid pitching with high strike %, are patient at the plate and make smart base running decisions this weekend, I'll be satisfied.

I agree. I want us to play solid fundamental baseball. If we do, we will have a chance in at least 2 games (just my personal guess)....not that we'll win 2, but 2 games will be close.

 

[SwarmArmy]

To say we've made a good start is an understatement. Wow.. the bats are red hot! Go Jackets!

 

[AE 87]

5-0 GT after 1

 

[GTNavyNuke]

No errors by GT and one by FSU. It's how you play the game .......

Heddinger is starting off really well. He has the potential but has had a lot of rocky outings. No hits for FSU through 3.

 

[AE 87]

Heddinger has two hit batter for fsu's only base runners thru 3

 

[AE 87]

We strand more guys in scoring position ...

 

[GTNavyNuke]

Clay walked three and hit one in the seventh. F,ing DP to end the inning. GT 5-3 going into bottom of 7th.

FSU had bases loaded with one out and after the third walk didn't score. This game can make you old.

I bet that Clay doesn't come out for the eighth.

 

[AE 87]

5-3 final

 

[SwarmArmy]

Phew! That was close.. A win is a win! One more tomorrow, please. Great team effort. I think our starting pitching will only get stronger Saturday and Sunday. Go Jackets!

 

[GTNavyNuke]

Wasn't easy, FSU got a lead off double in the eighth and a leadoff single in the ninth and didn't score.

Dusty came in and threw 30 strikes in 39 pitches. That's what you do - make them hit the ball and trust the fielders.

Which team left more on base?

 

[Eric]

Great win for our guys! Huge to get the first one out of the way...let's wrap the series up tomorrow.

 

[MWBATL]

Wow, what a fabulous win. We scratched out those runs (was a ball hit out of the infield in the 1st before we loaded the bases?) and then I couldn't watch because I knew we would just be holding on for dear life. But I followed on Gametracker and then back in to watch the 9th inning.

Now, worry-wart that I am , I worry because Clay and Isaacs won't be available again until Sunday's game. It would be SO sweet to win this series!!

 

[GTNavyNuke]

Stinger,

Am I high on the Kool-Aid, or is this a much more balanced and better team than we have seen in the last few years? I know we aren't ranked as high, but the fundamentals seem to be much better (patience at the plate, pitchers throwing strikes, aggressive fielding ....... )

You know the team better than most.

BTW, with Pitts loss we are in sole possession of #6 in the ACC.

No press for our team ..... talk about NCState and others but not us yesterday. http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com...CollegeBaseballDaily+(College+Baseball+Daily)

F'em, just win. That's what counts.

 

[MWBATL]

I'm not Stinger, but I do know this...in year's past, we seemed to rely on out-scoring the other guys...we had great offensive teams, and maybe one stud pitcher, but after that, we were winning games 10-8. That doesn't work against the good teams, or in the post-season, where good pitching beats good hitting. Hence, I agree this team has better ingredients for a post-season run. I go into most every game thinking we have a shot at winning, no matter who it is. (Trouble is, our offense is weak, and hence we also have a shot at losing most any game. We were very lucky to get 5 runs out of our offense last night!)

 

[SwarmArmy]

MWBATL,

Gorst was unused last night and will be available for today's game. He's arguably as good as Clay. Gorst and Shelton will pitch from the 'pen, I think. Stanton should go longer than 5 innings, hopefully..

 

[GTNavyNuke]

Was anyone else wondering why Hall didn't pull Clay in the 7th? Seems after two walks and a hit batter with the bases loaded we would have seen someone else. As is Clay walked over a run and got a double play. So didn't turn out bad. (I couldn't see the game and WREK was down so I just checked the GameTracker to catch up.)

Agree we were fortunate to get 5 runs. The FSU pitcher settled down and pitched about 119 pitches....... wow.

Thanks for the thoughts. {I asked Stinger since he personally knew some players on the team and has been {rightly} critical of our teams in the past. He used to comment more on GTSports.}

 

[MWBATL]

That 7th inning was probably where the game was won. Our stud reliever was off his game and the had scored to close to 5-3 and had the bases loaded with only one out. I am guessing Hall stuck with Clay because he felt he was the best he had, even if he was wild. It worked out as we got a DP and got out of the inning, but just think how different the 8th and 9th would have been in a one run game! As it was FSU had to play for 2 runs, not 1, in the 8th and 9th and that stopped them form sacrificing the lead-off double in the 8th over to third base, or the lead off single in the 9th over.

I was surprised, but I was too busy praying at that point. I actually did NOT want Isaacs at that stage, as he has been a bit shaky in many of his recent appearances. Swarm is right about Gorst and Shelton...we have depth like we haven't in....forever? Gorst has a superb 0.157 Batting Average Against, BUT he has 14 walks in 14 innings, which is why I would not put him in Clay's class yet (last night's wildness notwithstanding).

 

[AE 87]

I'd feel more confident if we had scored one of the guys we got to 3rd wih less than 3 outs

 

[GTNavyNuke]

Wow, Stanton gives up two lead off hits, then 3 outs.

Yesterday we stranded 3 and FSU stranded 9. That has to mess with their minds a bit. But they are one of the best in the country for a good reason.

Wow ......... GT 1-0 with no outs. Spingola scored from first when Hyde got a double.

 

[Eric]

Great start.