March 7, 2004
ATLANTA – Freshman Wes Hodges went 3-for-3 and drove in three runs, and Micah Owings and Tyler Greene each hit home runs to lead No. 12 Georgia Tech (8-5) to a 13-6 win over Rutgers (4-5) on Sunday afternoon at Russ Chandler Stadium in the rubber match of a three-game series.
Tech starter Andrew Kown (2-1) earned the win after allowing four runs on eight hits in 5.2 innings. The right-hander held the Scarlet Knights to just one run in the first five innings before running into trouble in the sixth. He issued four walks and struck out four. Jordan Crews, Ryan Self and John Goodman combined for 2.1 innings of scoreless relief to close out the game.
Hodges led the Tech offense with a perfect 3-for-3 afternoon, while Eric Patterson, Mike Nickeas, Clifton Remole, Tyler Greene and Whit Robbins each had two hits in the game.
The Yellow Jackets scored twice in the bottom of the first inning to take an early 2-0 lead. Patterson tripled to left center field to lead off the frame, and walks to Hodges and Brandon Boggs loaded the bases with no outs. Nickeas drove in Patterson with a fielder’s choice groundout to shortstop, and Hodges scored the second run of the inning on a balk.
A solo home run from Jason Grover, his first of the season, pulled the Scarlet Knights to within 2-1 in the top of the second, but Owings answered with a solo shot, his second of the year, that made the score 3-1 in the fourth inning.
Tech erupted for six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, including a two-run homer from Greene, his second of the year, and RBI hits from Hodges and Remole to make the score 9-1. But Rutgers responded with three runs in the top of the sixth, including a two-run home run from Nick Cerulo, to pull within 9-4.
In the bottom of the sixth, Tech’s Robbins singled and scored on Hodges RBI single to make the score 10-4. But Rutgers answered again with two more runs in the top of the seventh on a RBI double from Johnny Defendis and a RBI single from Cerulo to pull within 10-6. Tech responded with three runs in the bottom of the seventh, including a RBI single from Robbins and a sacrifice fly from Hodges, that made the score 13-6.
Rutgers starter Erik Dial (0-2) took the loss, allowing seven runs in 4.1 innings. Jeff Groce led the Scarlet Knights with three hits in three at bats, while Defendis added two hits.
Georgia Tech will host Western Carolina for a two-game midweek series on Tuesday and Wednesday at 4 p.m. each day. Live statistics will be available at www.ramblinwreck.com.
