Feb. 24, 2007

Box Score

Atlanta, Ga. - Duquesne's ninth inning comeback attempt fell short as nationally ranked Georgia Tech downed the Dukes' baseball team, 10-7, Saturday afternoon at the Yellow Jackets' Russ Chandler Stadium.

The Dukes took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the third only to see the hosts score five runs in their next three at-bats. DU scored twice in the sixth to cut the deficit to 5-4. After GIT added five more in the eighth, the Red and Blue rebounded with three runs in the final turn at the plate for the 10-7 score . Georgia Tech, which is now 5-4, started the week at number 15 in the Collegiate Baseball Top 25 and 16th in Baseball America's poll.

Both teams had 11 hits. Juniors Derek Mechling and Eric Morrison each went 3-for-5 with 2 RBI. Classmate Aaron Janusey and sophomore Brian Bernardo collected two hits and one RBI each. Janusey, Mechling and Morrison all drove in a run in the ninth. (Sophomore Mike Carroll pinch hit for Bernardo, was hit by reliever Andrew Robinson and scored on Morrison's single.) Senior Michael Dukovich pitched a scoreless inning of relief.

Sophomore Gary Pierpont pitched 4 1/3 innings and was charged with the loss. Ryan Turner evened his record to 1-1.

The Dukes (0-2) complete this three-game opening weekend series on Sunday at 1 p.m. Senior Travis Rife will face Georgia Tech's Chris Hicks. Rain is expected in the morning, with clearing skis and a high in the lower 60s.