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Connor Jones was ready to pitch. After taking ten days off, Jones just wanted some innings. And apparently, he didn't want his fellow pitchers to have a chance to take the mound. For the third time this season, Jones threw a complete game and in the process earned his tenth win on the year. He was ultra efficient only throwing 104 pitches on his to a final line of nine innings, three runs (two earned) on seven hits, one walk, and seven strike outs.
Georgia Tech got off to a quick start, putting men on second and third in the top of the first before Kel Johnson delivered a two RBI double giving the Yellow Jackets an early 2-0 lead. Jones would settle down though, retiring 12 of 13 batters between the second and sixth innings. It was enough to buy some time before the Hoos' bats woke up.
With one out in the bottom of the fourth, Matt Thaiss and Pavin Smith both reached on singles. After Daniel Pinero was retired, Adam Haseley hit a two-out double to right center that just missed being a home run to plate Thaiss and Smith and knot the game at two. The next batter Charlie Cody gave the Hoos the lead for good with his second home run of his career to give Virginia a 4-2 lead.
The Cavaliers got another in the fifth when the Hoos combined walks from Ernie Clement and Justin Novak with bloop singles by Thaiss and Smith to take a 5-2 lead. Adam Haseley then added to his stellar night hitting a no-doubt home run to right center to lead off the sixth and give Virginia a 6-2 lead.
Georgia Tech attempted a rally in the top of the seventh, when Jones balked with two runners on setting up an RBI sacrifice fly by Connor Justus. Jones would get out of the inning though inducing a ground ball to third and preserving the 6-3 lead. After giving up only a hit in the eighth, Jones capped the game in spectacular fashion striking out the side in the ninth.
Thaiss, Smith, and Haseley all had two hits for the Cavliers, with Haseley providing the firepower with his three RBI and two runs scored.
The two teams are at it again Saturday at 4 p.m. Alec Bettinger will take the mound for Virginia as they look to win the series and bolster an already impressive postseason resume.