March 5, 2004
ATLANTA – Brandon Boggs went 3-for-4 including a game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift No. 12 Georgia Tech (7-4) to a dramatic, 6-5 win over visiting Rutgers (3-4) on Friday afternoon at Russ Chandler Stadium in the opener of a three-game series. The Yellow Jackets, who snapped a four game losing streak, improved to 5-0 at home in 2004.
With the score tied 5-5 after eight and a half innings, Mike Nickeas belted a one-out double to the left center field wall to ignite a Tech rally. Pinch runner Andy Hawranick moved to third base on a wild pitch when Rutgers was attempting to issue an intentional walk to Micah Owings. After the Scarlet Knights completed the walk, Boggs belted the first pitch he saw from new reliever Matt Pustay to deep center field and Hawranick came home with the winning run.
Nickeas, who was mired in a 5-for-33 slump to start the season, established a new career high with four hits in the game. Boggs had a season high three hits in the game, including a home run, while Wes Hodges went 2-for-3.
Tech reliever John Goodman (2-0) earned the win after working two scoreless innings and allowing just one hit while striking out four. He came on in the eighth inning and helped the Yellow Jackets work out of a jam by striking out the side.
The Yellow Jackets struck for three runs in the fourth inning, all coming after two outs, to take a 3-0 lead. After Nickeas singled and Boggs walked, Steven Blackwood dropped a single in between the left fielder, center fielder and shortstop to give the Yellow Jackets a 1-0 lead. Freshman Wes Hodges followed with a two-run single, his fifth consecutive hit, to dive in Boggs and Blackwood.
Tech starter Micah Owings retired 12 straight Rutgers batters from the first through the fourth innings before the Scarlet Knights broke through with two runs in the top of the fifth inning to cut the lead to 3-2. Cory Rodriguez singled and Colin Gaynor walked to lead off the inning before Nick Cerulo delivered a RBI single that scored Rodriguez. After Jason Grover singled, Graig Badger drew a bases loaded walk to score Gaynor with the second run of the inning.
In the top of the sixth, Rich Canuso was hit by a pitch on an 0-2 count and Steve Hook belted a two-out, two run homer, his first of the year, to give the Scarlet Knights a 4-3 lead.
Tech retook the lead in the bottom of the inning with a two-run home run from Boggs, his second of the season, that made the score 5-4.
Rutgers tied the score at 5-5 in the top of the eighth inning when Jeff Frazier led off the inning with a double and scored on Canuso’s RBI single up the middle. The Scarlet Knights had a chance to take the lead when pinch runner David Williams stole second base and took third on a wild pitch with just one out, but Tech reliever John Goodman escaped the jam by striking out the next two hitters.
Tech had a chance to break the tie in the bottom of the eighth when Whit Robbins singled and Eric Patterson walked with two outs, but Tyler Greene flew out to the left field warning track to end the rally.
Tom Malifronte (0-1) took the loss in relief, allowing one run on two hits and two walks in two innings or work.
Neither starting pitcher figured in the decision. Owings went six innings and allowed four runs on four hits while striking out eight. Rutgers starter Jack Egbert worked 6.1 innings and allowed five runs on nine hits.
Georgia Tech and Rutgers will continue the three-game series on Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. each day. Live statistics will be available at www.ramblinwreck.com.
