Feb. 21, 2003
SAVANNAH, Ga. – Jeremy Slayden drove in two runs and Kyle Bakker, Jeff Watchko and Jordan Crews combined on a four-hittter to lead top-ranked Georgia Tech (4-0) to an 8-1 win over Rider (0-1) on Friday afternoon in the first day of the Memorial Health Diamond Classic at Greyson Stadium.
Bakker improved to 2-0 on the season after facing just two batters over the minimum over six innings. He allowed three hits, all singles, and one walk while striking out seven batters. No Rider baserunner advanced past first base against Bakker.
Watchko worked a perfect seventh and eighth innings before yielding to Crews in the ninth.
The Yellow Jackets jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Eric Patterson led off the game with a single, stole second base and scored on a RBI single from Slayden. Brandon Boggs, who walked, scored on a bases loaded walk to Clifton Remole, while Slayden scored on a groundout by Micah Owings.
The score remained 3-0 until Tech broke through for three runs in the seventh, scoring on a bases loaded walk to Steven Blackwood, a RBI single from Mike Nickeas and a RBI groundout from Tyler Greene. The Yellow Jackets added two more runs in the eighth inning on a RBI triple from Boggs and a RBI single from Slayden to make the score 8-0.
A solo home run from Rider’s Erinn Pesaresi in the bottom of the ninth inning broke up the shutout.
Tech managed just seven hits in the game, but the Yellow Jackets’ offensive effort was aided by 12 walks from Rider pitchers. Patterson and Slayden each had two hits in the game while Boggs and Matt Murton each walked three times.
Georgia Tech will face Michigan on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. in the second day of the Memorial Helath Diamond Classic. The second game of the day will feature Rider against host Armstrong Atlantic State. Live statistics for Georgia Tech’s game will be available on www.ramblinwreck.com.
