Hernandez HR Leads to 2nd Straight Run-Rule Win – Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

THE FLATS – Georgia Tech baseball (10-2) collected win No. 10 in style as freshman Alex Hernandez launched a walk-off mercy-rule home run, his 5^th HR of the season – tied for the most by any freshman in Division I – as the Yellow Jackets defeated Western Michigan (0-9) 13-3 in seven innings on Sunday afternoon inside Mac Nease Baseball Park at Russ Chandler Stadium. The Jackets earn their second sweep of the season in dominant fashion, outscoring WMU 43-8 over three games.

After WMU scored a run in the top of the first, its only lead of the weekend, the Tech bats struck for five runs in the bottom of the second off a bases loaded HBP, a wild pitch, a two-RBI double from Kyle Lodise and a double from Kent Schmidt. The Jackets would score at least one run in every inning after that, except for the 4^th, capping off the weekend with a walk-off home run from Alex Hernandez to put Tech in front by 10 runs, invoking the mercy-rule.

The Tech hitters dominated WMU all weekend as all 10 GT hitters with multiple at-bats scored at least three runs. Today, eight of the nine starting hitters reached base at least twice with eight of nine scoring a run and seven earning RBI.

QUICK HITS: THE TEAM

• The Jackets improve to 10-2 on the year, the best record through 12 games since starting the 2016 season 12-0.
• The Jackets connected for seven doubles today – tied for the most in a game this year (also Wednesday vs. West Georgia) off the bats of Kyle Lodise (6^th), Drew Burress (6^th), Kent Schmidt (5^th), Alex Hernandez (4^th), Parker Brosius (3^rd), Caleb Daniel (3^rd) and Carson Kerce (8^th). Tech has hit 42 doubles this season – the 2^nd most in Division I and the most by a GT team through 11 games since at least the turn of the century.
• Georgia Tech pitching has posted a 4.06 ERA over the opening 11 games, its lowest in three seasons.
• The Yellow Jackets lead the all-time series with Western Michigan, 7-0, following today’s result.
• Tech swiped three bases today, courtesy of Kyle Lodise (4^th), Parker Brosius (8^th) and Caleb Daniel (1^st). The Yellow Jackets entered the weekend leading the ACC in steals, bringing that number to 28 after today.
• All three Tech starting pitchers set career highs in strikeouts this weekend: Tate McKee (10 Ks on Friday), Brady Jones (9 Ks on Saturday) and Riley Stanford (6 Ks today).

Let ’em know @rileystanford15 😤

ACCNX – https://t.co/94AAVGNCpT#StingEm🐝 x #WreckHavoc pic.twitter.com/09CLaecVXO

— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) March 2,…