In James Ramsey’s first game as #2 Georgia Tech’s baseball head coach (with predecessor Danny Hall in the building), the Jackets comfortably won 11-4 over Bowling Green in front of an opening night program record 2,613 fans, alumni, and students. The win is Tech’s 13th straight opening day win.

Tech didn’t have a flawless game by any standards (multiple throwing errors and avoidable walks by freshman relievers), but the offense put up runs in five of eight offensive innings. The Jackets also left 13 men on base but only had one inning with only three batters come to the plate.

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“I think a lot of the correlation of leaving gusy on base means you’ve got a lot of guys on base, and we’re going to try to continue to stack as many bases loaded opportunities,” said Ramsey.

Last year’s Friday starter, Tate McKee, was given the ball and had a solid opening outing, throwing five innings of one run ball with six strikeouts with some excellent breaking balls.

Caleb Daniel was the star of the game, hitting two home runs (his first multi-homer game) and driving in six RBI, his career high.

How it happened

Jarren Advincula, a Cal transfer at second base, was given the leadoff spot in the order. He temporarily had started his season getting on base via a hit-by-pitch, but after a review the umpires determined he leaned into the pitch that hit him, resulting in a third strike and an out.

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In the third, McKee struck out the side all on devastating sliders all looking.

Tech’s offense got going in the third inning on a Chase Daniel inside-the-park home run that bounced off the top of the center field wall to go up 1-0.

“I was like, is it ever going to land?’ I was slowing down at second and I saw it land and then was running to third. Ramsey didn’t know if he was going to send me or not because he was watching the play. I touched third and he started waving me,” said Daniel after the game.

First baseman Kent Schmidt added an RBI double later in the inning to give Tech a 2-0 lead.

The next inning, Daniel was back up and smoked a 405 foot 3-run home run to put Tech up 5-1.

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In the 6th, Dylan Loy took over for McKee, throwing 1.1 innings and allowing only one hit.

“For me, everything starts on the mound. McKee did a really good job getting us five innings there and Loy came in and settles it like always,” said Ramsey after the game.

Freshman Charlie Willcox took over after Loy and had the most trouble of Tech’s pitchers, allowing three runs on seven baserunners. Even with Bowling Green’s success against Charlie, Ramsey had full belief in him.

“Getting your first appearance on opening night says a lot about the direction of those freshman arms,” said Ramsey.

Willcox did have to face extra batters in the 8th inning after Caleb Daniel had a throwing error that would’ve been the last out of the inning. Caden Gaudette came in to clean up the 8th striking out Vinny Salvione, who had homered earlier in the game.

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Daniel drove in his fifth and sixth RBI of the night in the bottom of the 8th doubling in Tech’s new starting third baseman Ryan Zuckerman and Will Baker. Jamie Vicens, another freshman pitcher, ended the game for Tech on the mound in the 9th allowing one run.