JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Georgia Tech scored two runs in the top of the ninth on three consecutive North Carolina State errors to beat the Wolfpack 10-9 on Wednesday in the opening game of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament.
The Yellow Jackets’ rally produced the fourth lead change of the game and handed the Wolfpack their first three-game losing streak of the season. The two teams combined for 19 runs, 28 hits and eight errors.
With Tech trailing 9-8 and down its last at-bat, Chase Burnette and Patrick Long reached second and third on infield errors by first baseman Pat Ferguson and second baseman Russell Wilson. Jason Haniger then grounded to shortstop Dallas Poulk, who misplayed the ball into center field, allowing the tying and go-ahead runs to score.
Brad Rulon pitched a hitless ninth for his fifth save of the season. Andrew Robinson (3-2) got the victory. Eryk McConnell (4-2), the fifth N.C. State pitcher, got the loss.
Under the two-bracket, round-robin format, the fifth-seeded Yellow Jackets (39-17) will face top-seeded Miami on Thursday; and the No. 4 Wolfpack (37-19) will play No. 8 Clemson.
Charlie Blackmon went 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBI for Georgia Tech. Tommy Foschi went 3-for-4 with three runs and an RBI for N.C. State, while Ferguson was 3-for-5 and scored three runs.
N.C. State starting pitcher Eric Surkamp struck out nine batters and walked two in the first six innings.