RALEIGH, N.C. - Jed Bradley scattered three runs - two earned - over 6.0 innings, and Matt Skole drove in four runs at the plate to lead No. 4 Georgia Tech over NC State, 5-3, in the series finale Sunday at Doak Field.

The Jackets improved to 36-9 overall and 17-7 in the Atlantic Coast Conference with the win. NC State falls to 28-18 and 11-13 in ACC play.

"We played much better defensively today," Head coach Danny Hall said. "We didn't walk too many guys, and we didn't give them a chance to put pressure on us. Anytime we don't walk guys and we play good defense, we have a great chance to win."

Bradley worked six innings Sunday, allowing the three runs on seven hits to improve to 7-2 on the season. The junior left-hander has been victorious in each of his last three starts, not allowing more than three runs in each outing.

"Jed [Bradley] has pitched great for us and given us a chance to win every Sunday," Hall said. "We needed him to pitch well today because we are going through a little bit of a funk. I thought he threw the ball well given that he held a good hitting team like NC State to just three runs."

Skole was 2-for-4 with four RBI on the day, and hit his 14th homer on the season with a deep shot right center in the top of the first off of NC State starter Alex Sogard.

"He [Matt Skole] had a big day," Hall added. "He got down two strikes on the count, and their pitcher made a mistake, so he made him pay. I was really surprised it went out because the ball hasn't been traveling well here today."

Sogard (0-2) picked up the loss after allowing four runs on five hits in 3.1 innings.

NC State got a run back in the bottom half of the first as Drew Poulk hit a RBI double to center. The Wolfpack added two more in the third, one on a groundout and another on a sac fly, to tie the game at 3-3.

The Jackets broke a 3-3 tie in the fourth inning, when Cole Leonida sent a solo shot to left field off of Sogard. It was Leonida's 10th homer of the season, as he became the fifth Tech player to reach the double-digit home run total this season.

The Jackets added another run in the seventh inning on some clutch two-out hitting by Skole. With senior Plagman stealing second to put himself in scoring position, Skole sent a grounder through the right side to drive Plagman home for a 5-3 cushion.

Sophomore Mark Pope relieved Bradley in the seventh, and recorded his first save of the season after holding the Wolfpack scoreless on just one hit in the final three innings. Pope, Tech's midweek starter, made his first relief appearance of the season.

"Mark [Pope] is pitching as good as anyone we have right now," Hall said. "We wanted to use him as a setup guy today, but he was throwing so good that we decided to leave him in there."

The Jackets will take the midweek off for exams before returning to action next weekend with a three-game series against Illinois-Chicago at Russ Chandler Stadium. First pitch Friday is at 7 p.m.

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - No. 4/4 Alabama (40-9) scored in every inning and defeated No. 9/7 Georgia Tech (43-9), 13-1 in five innings, Wednesday night at the Alabama Softball Complex. Junior Kristine Priebe had a RBI double to account for the Yellow Jackets' only run.

Freshman Hope Rush (24-6) took the loss as she was charged with five earned runs in just one-plus inning of work. It was the shortest start of her career. Rush allowed three hits, walked four and struck out one. Sophomore Jessica Coan went the rest of the way for Georgia Tech and was charged with eight runs (six earned) on nine hits and five walks. She also fanned five batters.

Junior Christy Jones had the only other hit off Alabama starter Kelsi Dunne (21-4). Dunne gave up one earned run on two hits. She walked one and fanned eight.

Alabama pounded out 12 hits on the night. Charlotte Morgan got the Crimson Tide going in the first inning with a two-run triple and then they broke the game open with a five-run second inning. The big blow was a three-run home run by Amanda Locke.

Alabama went on to add three more runs in the third and two in the fourth to cruise to the win.

Tech's lone run came in the fourth inning. Sophomore Kelsi Weseman led off with a walk and scored all the way from first base on a RBI double by Priebe to the wall in left-center field. Priebe.

Georgia Tech closes out the regular season this weekend in Raleigh, N.C. against NC State. The Yellow Jackets and Wolfpack will play a doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 1 and then close out the series the following day with a single game at 1 p.m. Tech has won an ACC record 16 straight series' in league play heading into this weekend. Live audio and stats for all three games will be available at www.RamblinWreck.com.

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - A two-run single by Danielle Dike led a three-run fifth inning as the No. 8/6 Georgia Tech Softball team (43-8, 16-2 ACC) erased a 2-0 deficit and came back to beat No. 24/20 Florida State (39-14, 10-8) 5-2 on Sunday afternoon at JoAnne Graf Field. The win clinched the Yellow Jackets' second straight ACC regular season title and was just their third ever in school history.

Dike was 2-for-4 in the game, while sophomore Kelsi Weseman also had two hits for the Yellow Jackets. Redshirt senior Jen Yee tied two more records in the game. She was intentionally walked three times this afternoon giving her 29 on the season which tied Arizona State's Katie Cochran for the most in NCAA history. Cochran was issued a free pass 29 times in 2008. Yee also scored the 216th run of her career moving into a tie with current Assistant Coach Aileen Morales atop the all-time Tech chart. Yee has done it in one less season.

Freshman Hope Rush improved to 24-5 on the season as she got the win in relief. Rush shut out the Seminoles on just two hits over four innings. She did not walk a batter and struck out one. Sophomore Jessica Coan started and gave up two runs in three innings, although both FSU runs scored on bloop singles. She allowed three total hits, walked two and fanned three.

The Yellow Jackets also set an ACC record by winning their 16th straight series. It broke Virginia Tech's mark of 15 straight from 2006 to 2008. The Jackets have not lost an ACC series since April 5-6, 2008.

FSU scored its only two runs of the game with two outs in the second inning. Ashley Stager and Kristie McConn each walked and came around to score on RBI singles by Monica Montez and Courtney Rosen.

The Jackets got on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning. Junior Christy Jones got the inning started with a bunt single and went to second base when Yee was intentionally walked. That's when FSU made a pitching change and Sarah Hamitlon came in to relieve Terese Gober. Weseman sacrificed both runners over for the first out of the inning and then junior Kristine Priebe was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

With Rush at the plate, Hamilton uncorked a wild pitch allowing Jones to score Tech's first run. After Hamilton struck Rush out, sophomore Kate Kuzma was robbed of a home run by Morgan Bullock in left field helping to preserve FSU's lead.

It was still a 2-1 game until the top of the fifth inning when the Jackets scored three runs to take the lead for good. With the bases loaded and two outs, Hamilton walked Kuzma forcing in the tying run. Dike then delivered a RBI single to left field scoring two runs and making it a 4-2 game. The second run was able to score when Bullock bobbled the ball in left field. The Yellow Jackets added an insurance run in the seventh inning when Kuzma scored on a wild pitch.

Rush pitched a perfect seventh inning to clinch the regular season title for the Yellow Jackets.

Georgia Tech's eight-game road trip continues on Wednesday, April 28 with a single game at No. 5 Alabama. First pitch from Tuscaloosa is set for 7 p.m. ET.

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ATLANTA - No. 3 Georgia Tech (34-7, 16-5 ACC) belted four home runs, and held off a late rally by No. 20 Virginia Tech (28-14, 11-10 ACC) for a 14-12 win in the series finale Sunday at Russ Chandler Stadium.

The Hokies, however, clinched the series with a 10-3 win earlier in the day in the resumption of Saturday's suspended game.

"I'm proud of the way our guys hung in there," head coach Danny Hall said. "Virginia Tech is a very good team. It looked like we had it under control and then they scored a bunch of runs, right after we scored a bunch. I think anytime you win in the league, you have to be happy about it. We beat a good team in our last game of the series."

Chase Burnette (12), Derek Dietrich (14), Cole Leonida (9) and Matt Skole (13) all homered in the game to give the Jackets 90 overall on the year. The Jackets had 13 hits in the win, after a total of 12 combined in the previous two games.

Dietrich was 2-for-2 with three runs and three RBI to close out the series. The Parma, Ohio native reached base five times in the game.

Junior left-hander Jed Bradley (6-2) allowed just three runs on six hits in 6.0 innings Sunday, striking out six in the process. He picked up his sixth win of the season.

"I think he's had two good outings in a row and gave us a good chance to win," said Hall of Bradley. "I'm very proud of the way he's pitched the last two times out."

Leonida broke a 2-2 tie in the third inning with a two-run homer to center field off of Virginia Tech right-hander Marc Zecchino. Zecchino (0-1) recorded his first loss of the season after allowing the two runs in 2.1 innings.

The Jackets extended their lead to 13-3 with six runs on four hits in the seventh, all coming on doubles.Tony Plagman drove in three of them with a two-bagger to the wall in left field to cap the scoring in the inning.

The Hokies attempted a strong rally with seven runs in the eighth (three coming on a pinch-hit home run by Anthony Sosnoskie) and two in the ninth, but freshman Luke Bard was able to close the game on the mound to help the Jackets avoid the sweep. Bard registered his second save of the season.

Mathew Price scattered two runs on six hits in 7.0 innings to give Virginia Tech a 10-3 win and series clinch over Georgia Tech in game two of the series earlier on Sunday.

Price fanned eight batters in the outing and improved to 5-3 on the season with the win. Georgia Tech's Brandon Cumpton (6-1) was credited with his first loss of the season after allowing six runs - three earned - on four hits in 4.0 innings.

Chase Burnette went 2-for-4 to lead Georgia Tech at the plate, but the Jackets had just seven total hits as they lost consecutive games for the first time this season

Almost 24 hours after Saturday's game was suspended due to severe weather, game two picked up in the bottom of the fourth with Virginia Tech on top 6-0.

Freshman Buck Farmer relieved Cumpton to begin Sunday, and was hit for four runs in 5.0 innings.

The Hokies added three runs in the sixth, two coming on a single to left field by Michael Seaborn to extend the lead to 9-0.

The Jackets finally broke through on the scoreboard for two runs in the bottom half. Plagman brought one home on a sac fly to center and Leonida drove in the second with a grounder to short.

VT's Joe Mantiply was able to hold Georgia Tech to just one run on one hit in the final 2.0 innings to end the game.

The Jackets return to action Tuesday, as they take on Georgia at 7 p.m. in the annual "Spring Classic for Kids" at Turner Field. The game will be televised live on Sports South.

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Georgia Tech's Derrick Morgan and Demaryius Thomas were both selected in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft Thursday night.

The last time two Yellow Jackets were taken in the first round of the draft came in 1979 when Eddie Lee Ivery (Green Bay) and Kent Hill (Los Angeles Rams) were drafted 15th and 26th overall, respectively.

Morgan and Thomas are the first of at least four Georgia Tech players expected to be drafted in the next few days.

Morgan, an All-American defensive end, was the 16th overall selection by the Tennessee Titans. Morgan was the first Tech player to be selected in the first round since Calvin Johnson was the second overall pick in the 2007 draft by the Detroit Lions.

Thomas, the first wide receiver to be selected in the 2010 draft, was taken 22nd overall by the Denver Broncos.

Morgan and Thomas give Tech six draft picks over the last two years combined. Morgan is the fourth Yellow Jacket defensive lineman to be drafted over the last two years.

Morgan is the first Georgia Tech player ever drafted by Tennessee. Tech's Mike Mooney was selected by that franchise, the Houston Oilers, in the fourth round of the 1992 draft. Thomas is the first Yellow Jacket taken by Denver since 2002 when Chris Young was selected in the seventh round. Thomas is just the second Tech player the Broncos have drafted since 1970.

Georgia Tech's Jonathan Dwyer (RB) and Morgan Burnett (S) are highly expected to go later in the draft. Cord Howard (OL) is another draft candidate.

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ATLANTA - Thomas Nichols had five hits, including two doubles and two home runs, to lead the third-ranked Georgia Tech baseball team (33-5) to an 18-4 victory over Georgia Southern (21-17) in midweek action Wednesday at Russ Chandler Stadium.

The five hits were a career-high for Nichols, who also added a career high five RBI in his 5-for-5 performance. Four of his hits went for extra bases, as he grabbed two doubles in addition to his sixth and seventh home runs of the season.

"I just tried to take advantage of pitchers attacking me because they don't want to face other guys in our lineup," said junior Thomas Nichols, who hits in the No. 7 spot for Georgia Tech. "We have a really dangerous lineup, and I kind of take it personal that pitchers are attacking me with a bunch of fastballs. I guess the results are going good right now, but I have to keep the same mentality and just pick up our teammates."

Not to be overshadowed by Nichols performance, was a 4-for-5 day at the plate by senior Tony Plagman.

It was the third time in the last six games (eight days) that Plagman had four hits. The senior first baseman drove in four runs, and hit his team-leading 14th home run of the season.

The Jackets completed a four-game midweek series sweep of Georgia Southern, and improved to 10-1 against in-state opponents this season.

Freshman Buck Farmer (4-1) recorded the win after allowing two runs on one hit in 3.0 innings of a designated staff day on the mound. Farmer struck out three batters.

Tech jumped out to a 4-0 lead on five hits in the first inning off of Georgia Southern starter Justin Hess. Junior Derek Dietrich plated the first run of the game with the single to right field before Plagman's solo shot to right field. Tech scored the other two on a wild pitch and a sac fly RBI to center by junior Chase Burnette.

Tech returns to action this weekend with a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series against Virginia Tech at Russ Chandler Stadium. Game times are 7 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.

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ATLANTA -Mark Pope picked up his sixth win of the season, allowing just two runs over 8.0 innings as No. 3 Georgia Tech defeated Georgia Southern, 6-2, Tuesday evening at Russ Chandler Stadium.

With the win, the Jackets improved to 32-5 overall while the Eagles fell to 21-16.

Pope (6-0) joins teammate Brandon Cumpton to give Tech two six-game winners on the season.

After allowing two runs through the first three innings, the sophomore right-hander went on to pitch five scoreless innings while yielding just four hits from the fourth inning through the eighth. His 8.0 innings pitched tie a season and career high.

"I thought he [Mark Pope] threw the ball really well," head coach Danny Hall said. "I know that they got some hits, but some of them weren't that great and just happened to find some holes. I thought really after the first few innings that he was pretty dominant."

Junior Derek Dietrich went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI to pace the Jackets at the plate. Dietrich, along with juniors Chase Burnette and Thomas Nichols combined to drive in all six of the teams runs on the day.

Kyle Blackburn led the Eagles with two hits, one coming on an RBI double to right field.

Defensively, the Jackets turned three double plays on the day to tie a season high.

"I think the double plays were really big in the win," Hall added. When we got [Kyle] Blackburn on that double play in the eighth inning, I thought that was a key play. We made most of the plays, and the three double plays were definitely rally killers."

Both teams traded runs in the first and third frames, with Tech evening up the score at 2-2 in the third on a RBI single to center Burnette.

The Jackets broke the 2-2 tie in the fifth inning, plating four runs off of Georgia Southern reliever Chris Beck. Dietrich and Nichols belted home runs to right-center around a fielder's choice RBI by Burnette for the 6-2 lead. Dietrich's solo blast was his 13th of the season, while Nichols' two-run round-tripper was his fifth.

Beck dropped to 2-4 on the season after allowing five runs on five hits in 4.1 innings. He entered the game with two outs in the second for Georgia Southern starter Matt Murray.

Senior Patrick Long struck out two batters to close out the game for the Jackets in the ninth.

The midweek series concludes Wednesday with a 4 p.m. start at Russ Chandler Stadium. Freshman Buck Farmer will take the mound for Tech against Georgia Southern right-hander Justin Hess.

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ATLANTA - Redshirt senior Jen Yee tied the school and ACC record with her 24th home run of the season and sophomore Jessica Coan struck out a career-high 13 batters in just five innings as the No. 9/7 Georgia Tech Softball team (41-6, 14-1 ACC) shut out Boston College (12-25, 0-12), 4-0, Sunday afternoon at Mewborn Field.

Yee went 3-for-3 in the game and the home run, her 24th of the year, tied Whitney Haller for the Georgia Tech and ACC single-season record. Haller did it in 2006. On the weekend, Yee was 6-for-6 and on base in all 10 of her plate appearances.

Coan (13-1) pitched the first five innings and allowed three singles, all of which were bloops off the bat of BC leadoff hitter Blair Destito. She walked two and struck out a career-high 13. At one point, Coan struck out 10 straight Eagle hitters and has now pitched 23 consecutive scoreless innings. Freshman Hope Rush pitched the final two innings for the Yellow Jackets and gave up two hits. She did not walk a batter and fanned one.

Sophomore Kelsi Weseman was 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI, while junior Kristen Adkins also hit a home run for the Yellow Jackets. Tech has now hit 91 home runs in 47 games this year and is closing in on the school record 96 long balls hit by the 2007 club.

Allison Gage took the loss for BC as she was charged with three runs on six hits in two-plus innings. Nicole D'Argento pitched well in relief limiting the Jackets to just one run on one hit in four innings of work.

Tech scored a single run in each of the first four innings and that was more than enough fore Coan. After Yee singled to lead off the bottom of the first inning, she came around to score later in the inning when Weseman roped a single into right field.

In the second inning, Adkins hit a two-out solo home run to left-center field making it a 2-0 game. It was her fourth home run of the year.

The Jackets added solo run in the third and fourth innings, respectively on solo blasts by Weseman and Yee. For Weseman, it was her ninth round-tripper of the season.

Georgia Tech will now close out the regular season with eight straight road games, five of which come against ranked teams. The trip begins Wednesday, April 21, with a 5 p.m. game against No. 13/11 Georgia in Athens. This is the second and final regular season meeting between these two teams.

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ATLANTA - Fifth-ranked Georgia Tech (31-5, 15-3 ACC) cruised to an 11-3 win over No. 16 Clemson (23-14, 10-8 ACC) behind strong pitching from Jed Bradley and four-hit performances from three different players Sunday at Russ Chandler Stadium. With the win, the Jackets picked up their sixth weekend series sweep of the season and fourth in Atlantic Coast Conference play.

“Anytime you can sweep Clemson is huge," head coach Danny Hall said. "The first two games could have gone either way. We put a little distance between ourselves today, but they are a great team and are going to finish high on the side over there. Anytime you can beat Clemson, it is a good day."

Jacob Esch (4-for-5, 1 RBI), Tony Plagman (4-for-5, 2 RBI) and Jeff Rowland (4-for-5, 3 RBI) picked up 12 of Tech's 17 hits Sunday, as the Jackets scored a run in every inning for the first time this season.

Esch's solo homer to right field in the eighth inning closed the scoring on the day, and extended the team's consecutive home run streak to 15 games. The Chanhassen, Minn. native had a huge weekend, going 7-for-12 with four runs scored, a double, home run and two RBI in the three games. He entered the series with just six hits total (6-for-59) in 15 ACC games.

Sophomore left-hander Jed Bradley (5-2) picked up his fifth win of the season after holding the Tigers to just three runs on eight hits. He fanned eight batters in 7.0 innings of work.

"We pitched well, played good defense and hit the ball good again," Hall added. "I thought Jed Bradley threw well, pitched out of some trouble when he had to, and then I thought our bullpen again came in and did a nice job."

The Jackets went to work early Sunday, scoring one run in the first on a Cole Leonida single to right field and four on three hits in the second for a 5-1 lead. Rowland brought in three of the runs in the second frame with a bases-loaded triple down the right field line. It was the sixth triple of the season for Rowland.

Tech went on to score one run in each of the final six innings of the game.

Clemson starter Will Lamb was pulled with two outs in the third, and credited with the loss after allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits.

Bradley retired the side in the seventh, picking up his eighth strike of the game before giving way to the bullpen in the eighth.

Jake Davies and Taylor Wood combined for 2.0 scoreless innings of relief, not allowing a single hit to close out the weekend.

The Jackets will face Georgia Southern for a two-game midweek series on Tuesday (6 p.m.) and Wednesday (4 p.m.) at Russ Chandler Stadium.

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ATLANTA - Redshirt senior Jen Yee went 4-for-5 with a double, seven runs scored, a home run, two RBI and three walks as the No. 9/7 Georgia Tech Softball team (37-6) swept Georgia Southern (20-19) Tuesday afternoon at Mewborn Field.

The Yellow Jackets won Game One 14-2 in five innings and then scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning of Game Two to pull out a 5-4 win. Junior Kristine Priebe was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the seventh inning of Game Two forcing in the tying run and then freshman Hope Rush had a walk-off RBI single.

Sophomore Jessica Coan (11-1) won the first game as she pitched four perfect innings with four strikeouts. In Game Two, Rush (20-4) won her 20th game of the season as she worked three innings of relief. Junior Christy Jones was 3-for-4 on the day with three runs scored and a stolen base. Sophomore Kelsi Weseman also had three hits to go along with two runs scored, a double, four RBI, two walks and a hit by pitch. Rush had four RBI on the day, including the walk-off hit in the night cap.
with a single and then stole second base. Weseman walked later in the inning and with one out, Priebe made it a 1-0 game as she doubled in Yee. After Rush walked to load the bases, sophomore Danielle Dike was hit with a 1-2 pitch forcing in the inning's second run. Snith struck out sophomore Jessica Sinclair for the second out, but did not retire another batter.

Junior Jessica Weaver had a two-run single in the first inning as well while freshman Caitlin Jordan and sophomore Kate Kuzma also had RBI singles for the Yellow Jackets. Smith then hit both Weseman and Priebe, the latter of which forced in another run, and that was the end of the day for her. Kaitlynn Szczepanski came in and gave up a three-run double into the left-field corner by Rush which made it 11-0.

The Jackets added two more runs in the second inning on RBI's by Yee and Weseman and the 14th run came on Yee's solo home run in the fourth inning.

Coan was perfect through the first three innings before being relieved by freshman Rachel Glazebrook in the fourth. Glazebrook gave up two runs on a Megen Smith homer and four hits in the inning and then Coan came back out for the fifth inning to preserve the win. She pitched a perfect final frame and finished the game with four strikeouts.

Game Two started off as a pitcher's duel between Tech junior Kristen Adkins and Georgia Southern ace Brianna Streetmon. It was a scoreless game until the third inning when Tech struck for the game's first run. Yee doubled with one out and came around to score on a two-out single by Weseman.

The lead was short-lived, however, as Georgia Southern struck for three unearned runs in the top of the fourth inning. After two Jacket errors, GSU had runners at second and third with two outs. Hanna Ennis had a two-run single and then Mackenzie Williams followed with a RBI single to put the Eagles on top 3-1.

Rush entered the game to start the fifth inning but a RBI double by Smith made it a 4-1 game.

Tech began to chip away in the bottom of the inning as it plated two runs to get back in the game at 4-3. Jones led off with an infield single and then stole second base. After Yee was intentionally walked, Kuzma bunted both of them into scoring position. Weseman followed with a two-run single making it a 4-3 game and was able to get to second base on a wild throw back in from right fielder Megen Smith. Weseman got to third base in the frame, but Tech was unable to drive her in.

Rush did her job keeping the Eagles off the scoreboard and that set the stage for the Jacket' second walk-off win in the last four days.

Jones once again started the rally, this time singling into left field. Yee was intentionally walked and then Kuzma bunted each of them into scoring position. After Streetmon intentionally walked Weseman to load the bases, she hit Priebe with the first pitch forcing in Jones with the tying run. Rush then came up and lined the winning single into left field and Georgia Tech was able to escape with the win.

Rush got the win as she allowed one run on three hits in three innings of relief work. She did not walk a batter and struck out three. Adkins pitched well in her four innings as she was charged with no earned runs (three total) on four hits and a walk. She also fanned three.

The Yellow Jackets hit the road tomorrow night for the first time in three weeks with a 7 p.m. game against Kennesaw State tomorrow night. Live audio and stats can be found at www.RamblinWreck.com. After the single game Wednesday, Tech hosts Boston College this weekend in its final regular season home games. The Jackets and Eagles will play a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m. and then conclude with a single game Sunday, also at 1 p.m. Prior to Game One on Saturday, seniors Kelly Eppinger and Jen Yee will be honored.

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Cody Winiarski held the second-ranked Georgia Tech baseball team to just one run over 5.1 innings, and Phil Gosselin was 2-for-4 with three RBI to help No. 4 Virginia take the series with a 9-1 victory Sunday at Davenport Field.

Virginia improved to 27-7 overall and 10-5 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, while the Jackets fell to 27-5 and 12-3 in the ACC. It was the first time this season Georgia Tech was on the losing end of a series.

"We didn't do anything good today," head coach Danny Hall said. "But give Virginia credit, they pitched real well and they made big plays. They won the series by playing better than we did for three games, and now we have to adjust and make improvements to get better for next week."

Winiarski (4-0) picked up his fourth win of the season, and combined with the Virginia bullpen to hold the Jackets to just seven hits on the day. The Jackets stranded eight base runners against the Cavaliers, including five in scoring position.

Derek Dietrich led Tech at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a home run.

Defensively the Jackets committed four errors on the day, and fell to 0-2 when committing at least three in a game.

Sophomore Jed Bradley recorded the loss, allowing six runs -four earned - in 5.2 innings. He struck out four.

"Jed [Bradley] got behind too much early in the game, and they were able to sit on a pitch to get their hits," Hall added. "They had hits with two outs, and hits with runners in scoring position to keep their distance. We had some chances to get back in it and just couldn't get the hit to tighten things up."

Virginia jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third inning, behind hits from Jarrett Parker and Franco Valdes, and a sac fly to left by Phil Gosselin. Gosselin was 2-for-4 on the day, with three RBI to pace the Cavaliers.

A double to right field by Thomas Nichols gave Tech two runners in scoring position in the fifth with just one out. Winiarski would eliminate the threat, however as Jacob Esch fouled out to right field and freshman Brandon Thomas hit a high ball to left field to end the inning.

Dietrich gave the Jackets life with a solo home run to right field in the fifth that cut the lead to 3-1, but UVA would give itself cushion in the bottom half of the inning. The Cavaliers scored three runs on four hits and two costly Tech errors.

Bradley was pulled for senior Patrick Long after surrendering the first run of the inning on an RBI single to center by John Barr. After Gosselin singled home the second run, another scored on a fielding error by Plagman and Esch on the same play.

Tech had another chance to come back in the eighth. Jeff Rowland singled to center and Dietrich drew a walk to put two runners on with no outs, but Virginia right-hander Tyler Wilson struck out Tony Plagman, Cole Leonida and Matt Skole in respective order to strand both runners.

Virginia added three more runs on three hits in the bottom half of the frame, for a 9-1 cushion. Kevin Arico would go on to retire three of the four batters faced in the ninth to close the game.

The Jackets will play a midweek game against Georgia on Wednesday, April 14, in Athens, Ga. The game will be televised live on CSS, with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m.

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ATLANTA - Mark Pope scattered four hits over eight innings, while Matt Skole and Chase Burnettehit home runs to lead the second-ranked Georgia Tech baseball team (26-3, 11-1 ACC) over Kennesaw State (13-18, 4-5 A-Sun), 8-2, Tuesday night at Russ Chandler Stadium.

The eight innings were a career high for Pope, who improved to 4-0 on the season with the win. The sophomore right-hander struck out six batters, allowing just two runs to cross the plate.

"Mark [Pope] threw the ball well tonight," head coach Danny Hall said. "The only bad pitch he threw was the home run ball. I thought he was in total command for eight strong innings, and he kept them totally off-balance."

Junior Derek Dietrich had three hits for the third consecutive game, leading Tech at the plate. SeniorTony Plagman added two hits and two RBI, while Skole had two hits of his own, including his 10th home run of the season.

"They [Kennesaw State] threw the same pitcher (as they did last Wednesday) and he did a great job against us [at Kennesaw]. I thought we'd have better approaches and be ready for him tonight, and I think we were," Hall added.

A sac fly to left field by Kennesaw State's Josh Whitaker gave the Owls a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Tech responded in the bottom half, scoring runs on a sac fly by Plagman, a grounder to second by Cole Leonida, and a solo home run by Skole to right field that made it 3-1.

Plagman brought in his second run of the game in the third, with a grounder to first that held up long enough to score Rowland from third.

Pope went on to retire 11 straight batters, before KSU's Drew Fowlkes sent a home run to right field that cut the lead to 4-2.

Chase Burnette would answer later in the inning with a home run of his own, a two-run shot to right-center off of Kennesaw State starter Zak Griffith for a 6-2 cushion. It was the 10th homer of the season for Burnette, as he has gone yard in three of Tech's last four games.

Griffith fell to 1-2 on the season with the loss, allowing six runs on five hits in 3.0 innings pitched.

The Jackets closed out the scoring with two runs in the eighth, both coming on a two-RBI single to center by Thomas Nichols.

Pope held the Owls to just one hit in his final four innings, before giving way to freshman Buck Farmer in the 9th.

Farmer struck out three Kennesaw State batters to end the game.

The Jackets hit the road this weekend, with a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series against third-ranked Virginia in Charlottesville, Va. First pitch is at 7 p.m. Friday.

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ATLANTA - With more than 23,000 Special Olympians in the state of Georgia alone, and only 23 full-time staff members, over 100 Georgia Tech student athletes played an important role in making the 2010 Games in Atlanta successful.

Representatives from nine different sports worked with the Special Olympians during the opening ceremonies and roller derby competition over the weekend.

The games kicked off with the opening ceremonies on Friday evening at the Cobb Civic Center, followed by a dance. Student-athletes from baseball, cheerleading, football, golf, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, volleyball and track and field served as escorts during the ceremonies.

"Last year at this event there were only a few of us that actually came out here," said Georgia Tech baseball pitcher Deck McGuire on Saturday. "Last night, during the opening ceremonies we had more than enough people to know what to do with so it just shows how everyone has really stepped up for these wonderful kids."

Eighty-five competitors hit the rink Saturday to compete in multiple derby races at the Sparkles Skate Center in Smyrna, Ga. Volunteers served as timers, assisted in registration, recorded information and helped with the awards ceremonies to name a few tasks.

"I think it's great to switch places with the competitors and be a fan for once," said baseball catcher Cole Leonida. "These guys love Tech and root for us all the time so it's a humbling experience to make them the focal point."

Most memorable to all the athletes from Saturday's event was the self-disqualification of one of the competitors who accidentally knocked another racer down and out of the race, before helping him to his feet.

"Everything these Special Olympians do is based on their sportsmanship and teamwork," Leonida added. "I think it gets lost in the world of sports today on so many levels, but here they utilize it so much and so well."

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) -- Georgia Tech overcame everything--a blown 20-point lead, the ear-ringing screams of North Carolina's blue-clad crowd and a second-half scoring barrage from Will Graves--to prove it has plenty of fight to go with all that talent.

Zachery Peacock made the go-ahead shot with 25.7 seconds left to rescue the 20th-ranked Yellow Jackets, who shook off that blown big lead and held off the 12th-ranked Tar Heels 73-71 on Saturday.

Iman Shumpert finished with a career-high 30 points to lead the Yellow Jackets (13-4, 2-2 Atlantic Coast Conference), who figured out a way to pull out a win after falling behind in the wild final minutes. Peacock managed just six points with one second-half field goal, but that shot in the lane rolled around the rim before dropping through to give Georgia Tech its first win in Chapel Hill since 1996.

"They made plays down the stretch," Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt said of his team. "It wasn't about Xs and Os."

North Carolina's comeback seemed perfectly tailored for the program's storied history, but the Yellow Jackets regrouped and kept the pressure on the Tar Heels (12-6, 1-2), refusing to let the game slip away.

After Graves buried a 3-pointer to give North Carolina its first second-half lead at 64-63, Brian Oliver responded by knocking down an off-balance jumper from the right side. D'Andre Bell answered Marcus Ginyard's hanging layup with a jumper of his own. Then, after freshman Travis Wear put the Tar Heels up 71-70 on a short hook shot with 41.4 seconds left, Peacock answered with what turned out to be the game-winner.

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ATLANTA - Al Groh, a veteran coach on the college and NFL level, has agreed in principle to become Georgia Tech's defensive coordinator, Yellow Jacket head coach Paul Johnson confirmed Friday morning.

Groh plans to sign a contract when he arrives on the Georgia Tech campus next week.

Johnson also announced Friday morning that Lamar Owens, a graduate assistant coach at Georgia Tech the last two years and a former quarterback at Navy, was named assistant coach in charge of the A-Backs.

Groh replaces Dave Wommack, who left Tech after two years as defensive coordinator. Owens takes over for Jeff Monken, who resigned to become the head coach at Georgia Southern.

Groh comes to Georgia Tech after serving nine years as head coach at Virginia, where he compiled a 59-53 overall record. He led the Cavaliers to bowl appearances in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007.

The Yellow Jackets now have on staff the ACC Coach of the Year the last three seasons. Groh was ACC Coach of the Year in 2002 and 2007. Johnson won the award in 2008 and 2009.

"I think any time you can get a coach the caliber of an Al Groh, it is a tremendous plus for your program," Johnson said. "Al has a great deal of expertise. He is considered one of the top defensive minds in the country and has a record to support it."

Prior to coaching at Virginia, Groh served one season (2000) as head coach of the New York Jets, compiling a 9-7 record. From 1989 until 1999, Groh served in a variety of assistant-coaching roles with the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots and the Jets. He was defensive coordinator for the Giants in 1991 and defensive coordinator for the Patriots from 1993-96.

Groh lived in Atlanta in 1987, serving as the Atlanta Falcons' special teams and tight ends coach.

From 1981-86, Groh was head coach at Wake Forest, where he compiled a record of 26-40 in six seasons.

"I am extremely flattered to be invited by Paul Johnson to be part of what he is building at Georgia Tech," Groh said. "He has already built an awful lot, and I appreciate his confidence that I can play a role in continuing to make Georgia Tech one of the elite programs in college football."

Owens is very familiar with Johnson's spread-option offense. In his first career start as Navy's quarterback, Owens rushed for 122 yards on 19 carries, becoming just the third Midshipmen QB to eclipse 100 yards in his first start.

As a team co-captain in 2005, Owens directed Navy to an 8-4 campaign and a win over Colorado State in the Poinsettia Bowl. As a senior, he rushed for 880 yards and 11 touchdowns, while throwing for 1,299 yards and six TDs.

"Lamar has a vast knowledge of the offense, having played quarterback for us at Navy and having been on the staff the last two years," Johnson said. "I am confident Lamar will do an outstanding job for us and that he is ready for this role."

Owens is a native of Savannah (Ga.) and graduated from Benedictine Military School in 2002 before moving on to the Naval Academy.

"I appreciate the confidence Coach Johnson has shown in me and this tremendous opportunity," Owens said. "Coach Johnson is building something special here at Tech and I'm fortunate to be a part of it."

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ATLANTA (AP)--Brigitte Ardossi had a career-high 29 points and 11 rebounds to lead No. 21 Georgia Tech to a 72-66 victory over Wake Forest on Thursday night.

Alex Montgomery had 15 points on five 3-pointers and added five assists for the Yellow Jackets (15-3 overall, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), who improved to 8-0 at home.

Ardossi shot 10 for 15 from the floor and 9 for 12 at the foul line. The 6-foot-2 senior from Australia came in averaging team highs of 13.5 points and 6.8 rebounds.

Courtney Morris and Asia Williams had 14 points each to lead Wake Forest (10-7, 1-2). Brittany Waters, the Demon Deacons' leading scorer at 15.6 points per game, fouled out with 9:50 remaining after getting only five points.

Wake Forest never led, but cut a 14-point deficit to one with two baskets to begin the second half before Georgia Tech regained control. Ardossi scored seven points to lead a 15-5 run and the Demon Deacons couldn't get closer than six the rest of the way.

Georgia Tech jumped to a 17-5 lead, with Ardossi and Sasha Goodlett each getting six points inside. Then Montgomery made four consecutive 3-pointers after an early miss.

The Yellow Jackets led 32-18 after Montgomery's fourth 3, but Wake Forest scored nine straight points and pulled to 36-31 at halftime.

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ATLANTA – Georgia Tech juniors Morgan Burnett (S), Jonathan Dwyer (RB) and Derrick Morgan (DE) will enter their names in the NFL draft, all three players confirmed Monday.

The Yellow Jacket trio joins junior wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, who made a similar announcement on Friday.

With Monday’s announcements, Georgia Tech loses the 2008 ACC Player of the Year (Dwyer), the 2009 ACC Defensive Player of the Year and first team All-American (Morgan), and an All-ACC defender (Burnett).

Burnett will leave Georgia Tech with 14 career interceptions, tying for the second-most in school history and just two shy of tying the Tech record of 16 held by Willie Clay (1988-91). His 235 career tackles are the eighth-most by a defensive back in Yellow Jacket history.





Dwyer will leave his name etched throughout the Georgia Tech record books. He concludes his three-year career with 3,226 rushing yards (6th in Tech history), 517 rushing attempts (8th), 17 100-yard rushing games (3rd), 3,966 all-purpose yards (5th), 35 rushing touchdowns (2nd) and 36 touchdowns overall (2nd). Dwyer rushed for an identical 1,395 yards in 2008 and 2009.



Morgan emerged as one of the nation’s top defensive ends in 2009, producing 18.5 tackles-for-loss and 12.5 sacks. His career totals include 29.5 tackles-for-loss, 19.5 sacks, six fumbles recovered and five pass break-ups.





Burnett, Dwyer, Morgan, Thomas and senior guard Cord Howard are all expected to be selected in the NFL draft. Linebacker Sedric Griffin could give Georgia Tech six players taken in one draft. The last time Tech had five players taken in one draft came in 2004 (Daryl Smith, Tony Hargrove, Keyaron Fox, Nat Dorsey and Jonathan Smith). Five Yellow Jackets were also taken in the 1992 draft. Seven Tech players were taken in the 1979 draft, but that included three players who were drafted in rounds 11 or 12.


The 2010 NFL draft could possibly mark the first time since 1979 that two Yellow Jackets are taken in the first round. In ’79, Eddie Lee Ivery went 15th overall to Green Bay and Kent Hill was the 26th overall selection by the Los Angeles Rams.





In addition to the early departures of Burnett, Dwyer, Morgan and Thomas, the Yellow Jackets will lose three senior starters – Howard, Griffin and offensive tackle Brad Sellers. There were six scholarship
seniors and four non-scholarship seniors on the 2009 Yellow Jacket roster.

Despite the losses, Tech will return a strong nucleus in 2010. Seven starters on offense and eight starters on defense will be back. In addition, the Yellow Jackets hope to return three defenders who were
injured most of the 2009 season – safety Cooper Taylor, end Robert Hall and linebacker Kyle Jackson.

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ATLANTA – Georgia Tech junior Demaryius “Bay-Bay” Thomas, who in 2009 enjoyed one of the best seasons ever by a Yellow Jacket wide receiver, will forego his season and enter his name in the NFL draft.
College juniors have until Jan. 15 to surrender their final year of eligibility by declaring for the draft.

Thomas was a first-team All-ACC selection, a third-team Associated Press All-American and a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award in 2009.

“This was a difficult decision for me because I love Georgia Tech and Atlanta,” Thomas said. “But, after talking it over with my family, we felt like it was time to move on to the next level.

“I want to thank Coach (Paul) Johnson and all the (assistant) coaches for all that they have done for me. He has been straight-up with me from the beginning and I will always appreciate that.”

On an offense known more for its rushing attack, Thomas emerged as one of the nation’s top receivers this season:
-- Thomas had 46 of Georgia Tech’s 78 receptions.
-- His 1,154 receiving yards this season were the second-most in Georgia Tech history, trailing only Calvin Johnson (1,202 yards in 2006).
-- Thomas had eight of Tech’s 11 touchdown receptions.
-- He averaged a remarkable 25.1 yards per reception.
-- Thomas produced four games of 100-plus yards receiving in ’09.
-- He had 18 receptions of 20 yards or longer, nine receptions of 50 yards or longer and four catches of 70-plus yards this season.

Thomas expects to join a long line of former Yellow Jacket receivers who were selected in the NFL draft: Johnson was the second overall pick by Detroit in 2007; Jonathan Smith was drafted in the seventh round in 2004 by Buffalo; Dez White was a 2000 third-round selection by Chicago; Charlie Rogers went in the fifth round to Seattle in 1999.

“I wish Bay-Bay and his family the best,” Johnson said. “I appreciate everything he has done for us. A lot of people told him two years ago that he should leave. He gave it a chance and I think things worked out well for him.”

Thomas concludes his career with 120 receptions (7th-most in Tech history) for 2,339 yards (4th-most in Tech history) and 15 receiving touchdowns (4th-most in Tech history). He caught a pass in 29 consecutive games before seeing that streak end Tuesday night in the FedEx Orange Bowl.

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ATLANTA – Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Dave Wommack will not return for the 2010 season, Yellow Jacket head coach Paul Johnson said today.

“Dave is a good man and a good football coach,” Johnson said.

“But after speaking to him earlier this week, we both agreed that it was time for a change at that position.”

The search for a new defensive coordinator will begin immediately, Johnson said.

Georgia Tech ranked 54th nationally in total defense in 2009, breaking a streak of five consecutive years finishing ranked in the top 30 in that category. The Yellow Jackets ranked 56th in scoring defense, 68th
in rushing defense and 88th in pass efficiency defense.

Tech held three ACC opponents – North Carolina, Virginia and Duke – to 10 points or less, but the Yellow Jackets allowed 30 or more points six times in 2009.  Tech allowed 66 plays of 20 yards or longer and 22
touchdown drives of three minutes or less.

Junior defensive end Derrick Morgan was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and first team All-American. In 2008, five Yellow Jacket defenders earned All-ACC honors.

Wommack recently completed his second season at Georgia Tech, joining Johnson’s staff in December, 2007. A 30-year veteran college coach, Wommack has previously worked at Southern Mississippi, South Carolina, Arkansas, UNLV, Southwest Missouri State, Bemidji State and Missouri.

Wommack, 53, was a three-year letterwinner at Missouri Southern, where he played center. He graduated from Missouri Southern in 1978 and earned a master’s degree from Arkansas in 1979.

Wommack’s departure leaves two vacancies on the Georgia Tech staff.  A-backs coach Jeff Monken resigned earlier to become the new head coach at Georgia Southern.

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) - Italee Lucas shrugged off her barrage of successful jump shots. She might have been the only one unimpressed.

Lucas scored 23 of her 28 points in the first half to help No. 7 North Carolina beat No. 20 Georgia Tech 89-78 on Wednesday night.

"Italee Lucas was unbelievable in the first half," Georgia Tech coach MaChelle Joseph said. "That's one of the best first halves of play I think I've ever seen a guard put on (as far as) a shooting display. She was amazing. I knew she could shoot the basketball, but I didn't realize she could shoot it as well as she did."

Cetera DeGraffenreid and She'la White added 13 points apiece for the Tar Heels (12-1, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), who won their league opener for the 15th time in the last 16 seasons.

Deja Foster, Sasha Goodlett and Alex Montgomery scored 15 points each to lead Georgia Tech (13-3, 0-1 ACC), which lost to North Carolina for the 14th time in the teams' last 15 meetings. Brigitte Ardossi added 12 points for the Yellow Jackets, whose eight-game winning streak ended.

Lucas shot 7-for-8 from the floor, including 3-for-4 on 3-pointers, and made 6 of 7 free throws to help the Tar Heels race out to a 50-26 halftime lead.

She ignited North Carolina's 24-5 half-closing run with a 9-0 spurt of her own, scoring on a four-point play, a 3-pointer and a pull-up jumper in a 90-second span.

"I guess I was just feeling it," said Lucas, who finished one point shy of her career high.

While Lucas scored 17 points in the final 11 minutes of the first half, the Yellow Jackets struggled.

Georgia Tech went without a field goal for the final five minutes of the period, turning over the ball on seven consecutive possessions during one stretch late in the half. The Yellow Jackets committed 17 of their 22 turnovers in the first half.

"I didn't think we played hard, and I didn't think we played smart," Joseph said. "CAROLINA is the type of team that if you don't play hard and you don't play smart, they're going to exploit you. That's exactly what happened."

The Yellow Jackets cut into the lead in the second half, but they couldn't trim it to fewer than 13 points until less than a minute remained in the game.

North Carolina shot 52 percent from the floor, the best by a Georgia Tech opponent this season, in advance of its trip to top-ranked Connecticut on Saturday.

"I don't think anyone is expecting us to beat them, except maybe us," North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell said. "We're going to go up there and play like we've been playing."

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MIAMI (AP) - No. 10 Iowa solved Tech's explosive triple option and Ricky Stanzi threw two early touchdown passes for a 24-14 victory Tuesday night in the coldest Orange Bowl ever.

Temperature at kickoff was 49 degrees, and Tech's offense was slow to warm up. The ninth-ranked Yellow Jackets averaged 35 points during the regular season, but their only score in the first three quarters came on Jerrard Tarrant's 40-yard interception return.

"This was Hawkeye weather," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "We feel right at home right now."

The Hawkeyes (11-2) earned their first Bowl Championship Series bowl win, matched the school record for victories and could claim their highest final ranking since finishing No. 3 in 1960.

Georgia Tech (11-3) totaled nine first downs and a season-low 155 yards.

The Yellow Jackets were first in the nation in time of possession, second in rushing and 11th in scoring at 35 points per game. But they sputtered against an Iowa defense that held four bowl-bound teams to 10 points or less during the regular season.

End Adrian Clayborn led Iowa's defensive charge. He had two sacks and nine tackles, including two for a loss, and was chosen the game's most valuable player.

The Hawkeyes had never faced the triple option in Ferentz's 11 seasons as coach, but his staff had a month to prepare for Tech, and it showed. The Yellow Jackets had only 14 three-and-outs during the regular season, fewest in the nation, but they failed to pick up a first down on their first four possessions.

"It's just a good thing we had a month to prepare because it was difficult," Clayborn said.

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FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Georgia Tech will take the field tonight against Iowa in the 2010 FedEx Orange Bowl in a newly developed technical jersey. Russell Athletic, the official uniform provider of Georgia Tech Athletics, will launch the jersey, specifically designed for the Yellow Jackets, as they take center stage in the nationally televised match-up.

The newly engineered jersey, according to Russell, was inspired by head coach Paul Johnson’s high-powered spread option offense. The key technical features of the jersey include:

-- Full compression fit which provides a component that makes pulling and grabbing the uniform by an opponent more difficult.

-- 4-Way Stretch element which allows for comprehensive motion and doesn’t bind the athlete.

-- Total Ventilation which helps disperse the athlete’s heat build up while cooling the body with a moisture management technology.

The design of the jersey includes a more fashion forward cut and style while continuing with Georgia Tech’s traditional, official colors: gold and white (with navy trim). One new design element is a new three
stripe sleeve which will serve as the signature visual design representing a nod to the triple option.

“We are proud of everything Georgia Tech has accomplished this year.  It seems fitting for Russell Athletic to provide the team with a special designed, technical jersey to commemorate their winning season and
invitation to the 2010 Orange Bowl,” said Gary Barfield, Executive Vice President Russell Athletic. “This is a terrific opportunity for Russell Athletic to show our commitment to developing functional and innovative products that enhance an athlete’s performance.”

Following the launch of Georgia Tech’s exclusively designed jersey, Russell Athletic will begin development and production of the jersey for the 2010 football season. The new jersey will be available for all levels of play including collegiate and high school.

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MIAMI – Sophomore Sasha Goodlett led four Yellow Jackets in double-figures as the 24th-ranked Georgia Tech women’s basketball team (12-2) captured the 2009 Sun & Fun Classic with a 68-57 win over host Florida International (6-7) Tuesday afternoon.

Goodlett scored a team-high 17 points. Senior Brigitte Ardossi, the 2009 Sun & Fun Classic MVP, scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds but was limited to only 23 minutes due to foul trouble.  Sophomore Mo Bennett registered 11 points and junior Alex Montgomery scored 10 points off the bench on her way to being named to the All-Tournament team.

"I am proud of the kids for finding a way to win tonight," head coach MaChelle Joseph said. "Sasha Goodlett made some huge plays for us along with Mo Bennett."

FIU’s Rakia Rodgers led all scorers with 18 points off the bench. Monika Bosilj added 10 points and seven rebounds for the Golden Panthers.

The Yellow Jackets will return to action in the New Year when they face Army on Saturday, Jan. 2. Tip-off at Alexander Memorial Coliseum in the Henry F. McCamish Basketball Complex is scheduled for 2 p.m.

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MIAMI – Senior Brigitte Ardossi finished with a career-high 24 points leading the 24th-ranked Georgia Tech women’s basketball team (11-2) to a 63-54 win over Hampton (3-8) Monday night in the first round of the FIU Sun & Fun Classic at the U.S. Century Bank Arena.

Ardossi finished the game nine-of-12 from the field with eight rebounds and four steals. Deja Foster scored 10 points and grabbed nine boards and Alex Montgomery added 12 points off the bench for the Yellow Jackets.

“I give Hampton a lot of credit,” head coach MaChelle Joseph said. “It is obvious why they played for their conference championship a year ago. I was very proud of our veterans down the stretch. Brigitte, Deja and
Alex all made huge plays. Brigitte continues to be a dominant factor in every game. I am pleased with her consistency.”

The Lady Pirates battled Tech the entire first half but a Montgomery three-point field with 30 seconds remaining gave the Yellow Jackets a 28-27 advantage going into the locker room.  Ardossi led Tech with 12 points on a perfect six-of-six shooting from the field.

The Yellow Jackets opened the second half on a 5-0 run but Hampton answered, eventually taking a 43-42 lead with 9:05 remaining in the game. Tech, led by three Montgomery three-pointers, would go on a 13-0
run over the next five minutes to open a 55-43 advantage.

The Lady Pirates would not go away, closing the gap with an 8-2 run of their own to bring the score to 57-51 with 2:50 on the clock. Ardossi scored the final six points as the Jackets were able to hold on for the
win.

Hampton got 11 points each from Quanneisha Perry and Bernadette Fortune. Jerika Jenkins added nine points off the bench for the Lady Pirates.

The Yellow Jackets will continue play at the 25th annual FIU Sun & Fun Classic Tuesday afternoon in the championship game against Florida International. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.

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TUCSON, Ariz. — The Georgia Tech baseball team is ranked No. 6 in Collegiate Baseball newspaper’s 2010 preseason poll, which was released Monday.

The No. 6 ranking is Tech’s highest preseason standing since the 2006 season in which the Jackets were ranked No. 4 by Baseball America – the same year the school made its last trip to the College World Series
in Omaha.

The Jackets return 24 letterwinners from a 2009 team that went 38-19-1 and advanced to the finals of the NCAA Atlanta Regional. Six position players and two of the three weekend starters are back on the mound for Tech.

The Jackets are one of six Atlantic Coast Conference teams in the publication’s top-25, as the ACC is represented by the most teams among all conferences in the “Fabulous 40” preseason poll. Virginia
is the highest in the conference at No. 3, while Florida State (No. 7) joins the Jackets and Cavaliers in the top-10.

The "Collegiate Baseball" Newspaper poll is the oldest college baseball poll. Its birth took place during the 1958 college baseball season.

The 2010 season for Tech begins Friday, Feb. 19 at 4 p.m. as the Jackets host Missouri State for a three-game series at Russ Chandler Stadium.

Collegiate Baseball Preseason Top 10
1. Texas
2. LSU
3. Virginia
4. Cal State Fullerton
5. Arizona State
6. Georgia Tech
7. Florida State
8. UC Irvine
9. Florida
10. Oregon State

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ATLANTA - Georgia Tech junior defensive end Derrick Morgan was named first team All-American and Yellow Jacket junior wide receiver Demaryius Thomas was named third team All-American by the Associated Press on Tuesday.

The honors continue to roll in for Morgan, who earlier this month earned first team All-American honors (AFCA), second team All-American (Camp), first team All-ACC, and he was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Morgan was also named second team All-American by Sporting News on Tuesday.

Thomas is the first Georgia Tech offensive player named Associated Press All-American since Calvin Johnson in 2006.  Morgan and Clemson’s C.J. Spiller (all-purpose player) were the only
two ACC players named to the AP first team.

Morgan has 12.5 sacks on the season, which ranks first in the ACC and sixth nationally. He is just the seventh player in Tech history to record 10 or more sacks in one season. He has 18.0 tackles for loss,
which ranks second in the ACC and tied for 18th nationally.

Thomas, a first team All-ACC selection and a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, leads the ACC and ranks 16th nationally in receiving yards per game (88.8). He averages 25.1 yards per reception, the
second-highest average nationally and the highest average in Georgia Tech and ACC history.  Thomas has 18 receptions of 20 yards or longer this season, nine receptions of 50 yards or longer, and is tied for the
most in the nation with four receptions of 70 yards or longer.

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GREENSBORO, N.C. - Georgia Tech freshman Sharena Taylor earned Atlantic Coast Conference Women’s Basketball Rookie of the Week honors for the week ending Dec. 13.  Taylor earns her first career weekly conference nod after tallying career-highs in points and assists coming off the bench for Georgia Tech last week.

The rookie from Pontiac, Mich., finished with career-highs in points (12) and assists (7) in 26 minutes off the bench. Taylor ran the Tech offense from the point guard position and finished with only one turnover in the game. In addition, her seven assists were the most by a Yellow Jacket player in a game this season.

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ATLANTA – Sophomore Chelsea Regins led the Yellow Jackets with 15 points off the bench as the Georgia Tech women’s basketball team (6-2) cruised to an 89-41 victory over Mississippi Valley State (2-4) Sunday afternoon at Alexander Memorial Coliseum in the Henry F. McCamish Basketball Complex.

The Yellow Jackets, who had six players score in double figures, finished the game shooting 60 percent from the field. It was first time a Georgia Tech squad topped 60 percent from the field since shooting 63.8 percent against Fairfield on Dec. 30, 1994.

“I was pleased with our defensive intensity, particularly in the second half,” head coach MaChelle Joseph said. “It was good to see us share the basketball the way we did on the offensive end. Having six players in double figures and 25 assists is a credit to our players and how they played together.”

The Yellow Jackets opened the game red-hot from the field, shooting 61.5 percent in the first half to take a 37-24 lead in to the locker room. Junior Deja Foster led Tech with eight points and dished out four of the Jackets 13 first half assists.

Georgia Tech continued its hot shooting in the second half behind a 36-3 run over the first 12:30 minutes. The Delta Devilettes, who scored their first three points of the half on a three-pointer by Courtney O-Briant with 14:39 on the clock, would not score another field goal until Colby Stallings added a three-point field goal of her own at the 6:10 mark.

Georgia Tech senior Brigitte Ardossi finished with 12 points. Foster added 12 points, seven steals, six rebounds and six assists for the Jackets. Tech dished a season-high 25 assists in the win.

Ka’Nieshia Smith led Mississippi Valley State with 12 point. Stalling contributed five points and eight rebounds off the bench.

The Yellow Jackets will continue their five games in nine days swing Wednesday evening when they host Oregon as part of a doubleheader with the Georgia Tech men’s team. Tip-off at Alexander Memorial Coliseum is slated for 6 p.m. The men’s game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff will begin at 8:30 p.m.

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