March 30, 2002
RALEIGH, N.C. – Matt Murton hit a grand slam and drove in five runs, and Georgia Tech used a 12-run seventh inning as the sixth-ranked Yellow Jackets (21-4, 2-2 ACC) defeated NC State (19-10, 1-4), 18-5, in the first game of a doubleheader at Doak Field on Saturday afternoon. The two teams are playing a doubleheader on Saturday due to the high probability of rain on Sunday.
The seventh inning was highlighted by Murton’s grand slam, a triple by Victor Menocal, and doubles by Eric Patterson, Murton, and Brandon Boggs. Murton led all Tech batters with five runs batted in, and Patterson, Menocal, and Tyler Parker each had three hits.
The Yellow Jackets jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on a home run by Parker, his seventh of the season.
The Wolfpack went ahead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Justin Riley delivered a double to left center field to drive in Jeremy Dutton and Brian Wright. NC State then added three more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to make the score 5-1. Matt Butler led off the inning with a triple down the right field line and then scored on an error by Tech third baseman Jake Hall. A RBI single by Dutton plated Adam Hargrove, and a sacrifice fly by David Hicks drove in Chad Orvella to round out the scoring in the inning.
The Jackets answered with three runs of their own in the top half of the sixth inning, making the score 5-4. Murton led off the inning with a walk, and advanced to second on a walk issued to Parker. An error by Wolfpack shortstop Orvella loaded the bases before Wes Rynders delivered a double down the left field line to drive in Parker and Boggs.
The NC State comeback in the ninth inning fell short for the second time in as many games. The Wolfpack scored seven runs before Andrew Kown recorded the last two outs of the game.
Neither starting pitching figured into the decision of the game. Tech reliever Jeff Kindel (1-0) pitched four innings, facing the minimum number of batters to earn the win. Nate Cretarolo (1-1) took the loss for the Wolfpack, giving up seven runs on six hits.
The two teams will complete three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series with the nightcap of the doubleheader late Saturday afternoon.
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