Gwinnett Daily Post

Photo by Jason Braverman

ATLANTA -- Freshman Daniel Palka's walk-off single capped a five-run, ninth-inning rally as the ninth-ranked Georgia Tech baseball team slipped past North Carolina 9-8 on Saturday. The win evened the series with UNC at 1-1.

Palka finished the game 4-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs. Wesleyan grad Connor Winn scored the game-tying run for the Yellow Jackets (36-15, 19-7 ACC) after coming in to pinch run.

Freshman DeAndre Smelter (2-0) got the victory after holding the Tar Heels to just one hit in two innings of relief. Smelter hasn't allowed a run in 11 innings of relief this season.

Cone, UGA fall on road to Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Parkview grad Zach Cone had his fifth outfield assist of the season, an impressive sliding catch and an RBI single, but those kind of highlights were rare Saturday for Georgia's baseball team as it lost 12-5 at Kentucky.

The Bulldogs gave up 17 Kentucky hits on a rare off outing by starting pitcher Michael Palazzone. He gave up a career-high 11 runs on 15 hits in 5 1/3 innings after allowing only 13 earned runs combined in his previous eight SEC starts -- a span of 64 innings.

Chase Davidson, Brett DeLoach and Jonathan Hester also had RBI singles for the Bulldogs (25-26, 14-12 SEC). Thomas McCarthy (4-for-5, two home runs, four RBIs) led the offense for Kentucky (24-27, 7-19).

Squeglia, Panthers cap series with win

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. -- Collins Hill grad Nick Squeglia pitched two scoreless innings of relief late to help Georgia State to a 11-6, series-clinching win at William and Mary on Saturday.

Georgia State improved to 35-17 overall and 15-12 in Colonial Athletic Association play. The 35-win total ties a school record for regular-season victories.

The Panthers pounded out 16 hits, three each from Rob Lind and Brandon Williams.