April 2, 2003
ATLANTA – Brandon Boggs, Matt Murton and Mike Trapani all hit home runs to lead No. 8 Georgia Tech (22-5) to a 7-5 win over visiting Winthrop (16-12) on Wednesday evening at Russ Chandler Stadium.
Tech starter Chris Goodman improved to 3-1 after working eight solid innings. The senior right-hander allowed five runs, four of which were earned, on five hits while striking out seven batters and not issuing a walk. Goodman surrendered all five runs in the third inning, and put up zeroes in his other seven innings of work.
Jeff Watchko worked a scoreless ninth inning to earn his team-leading fourth save of the season. The save was the 18th of his career, moving him into a tie for fourth place on Georgia Tech’s all time saves list.
Georgia Tech out hit Winthrop, 11-5, including two hits apiece from Boggs, Murton, Jeremy Slayden, and Andy Hawranick.
The Yellow Jackets built a 4-0 lead through the first two innings. Boggs led off the bottom of the first inning with a single and scored when Mike Nickeas grounded into a double play. Tech plated three runs in the second with a RBI double from Hawranick and a two-run homer from Boggs, his seventh of the season.
Winthrop stormed back with five runs in the top of the third inning to take a 5-4 lead. Kyle Roberson belted a two-run double down the left field line before Daniel Carte hit a three-run home run, his fifth of the season.
Tech tied the game in the fourth inning with a solo home run from Mike Trapani, his second homer and second hit of the season. The Yellow Jackets took a 7-5 lead in the fifth on Murton’s eighth home run of the season and a RBI infield single from Steven Blackwood.
Winthrop mounted a rally in the top of the ninth inning, putting the tying runners on base when Grant Neidenfeuhr reached on an error and Matt Repec walked, but Watchko worked out of the jam and struck out Mike Honce to end the game.
Tech’s Mike Nickeas went 0-for-4 in the game to snap a career long 15-game hitting streak.
Winthrop reliever Ryan Chenard (1-1) took the loss, allowing three runs on three hits in 2.2 innings of work.
Georgia Tech returns to action this weekend for a three-game series at North Carolina. The series begins on Friday at 7 p.m., and continues on Saturday at 1 p.m. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m.. Radio coverage is available on WREK-Radio (91.1 FM in Atlanta), while live statistics and the radio broadcast will be available on the internet at www.ramblinwreck.com.
