March 14, 2003
ATLANTA – Jeremy Slayden’s two-out RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted top-ranked Georgia Tech (16-0) to a 5-4 win over Kent State (6-4) on Friday afternoon at Russ Chandler Stadium. The Yellow Jackets scored four runs in final two innings in the come from behind victory.
Georgia Tech’s win tied the school record for the best start in team history, and the Yellow Jackets initially set the school record with a 16-0 start in 1987. Tech’s current 16-game winning streak is tied for the third longest in school history.
Trailing 4-1 after seven and a half innings, the Yellow Jackets scored three times in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie the score. Steven Blackwood drew a one out walk and took third base on Jeremy Slayden’s double. A sacrifice fly from Murton drove in Blackwood with the first run of the inning before Clifton Remole and Mike Nickeas followed with a pair of two-out RBI singles to tie the game at 4-4.
Micah Owings led off the bottom of the ninth inning with an infield single to third base and moved up to second base on a throwing error from Kent State’s Matt Sega. After an intentional walk to Davis Myers, Kent State reliever Gus Hlebovy (2-1) nearly worked out of the jam by retiring the next two Tech batters before Slayden belted a 3-1 pitch to the right center field alley to drive in pinch runner Cameron Lane with the winning run. Slayden went 3-for-5 in the game while Eric Patterson and Micah Owings added two hits apiece.
Tech reliever Jeff Watchko (2-0) earned the win after working a scoreless ninth inning and all four runs allowed by Tech pitchers in the game were unearned. Hlebovy took the loss, allowing four runs on six hits in 1.2 innings.
The Yellow Jackets took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning thanks to two Kent State errors in the infield. Steven Blackwood reached on a fielding error by first baseman Chad Kinyon, then stole second base before scoring on throwing error from catcher Pat O’Brien.
The Golden Flashes tied the score at 1-1 in the top of the third inning when Eric Hollick reached on a two-base throwing error from Tech shortstop Tyler Greene and then scored on Joe Tucker’s RBI single to right field. Eric O’Brien doubled down the right field line to lead off the fifth inning and then scored when Tech second baseman Eric Patterson could not handle a throw from Mike Nickeas on Chuck Moore’s sacrifice bunt attempt.
Kent State stretched its lead to 4-1 in the top of the eighth inning with a pair of unearned runs. Tucker reached on an error to lead off the inning and took second base on Chris Welsh’s two-out single. A RBI single from Chad Kinyon scored Tucker while Welsh scored when Blackwood overran the ball in center field.
Neither starting pitcher figured in the decision despite a pair of solid outings. Tech starter Kyle Bakker worked seven-plus innings and allowed three unearned runs on five hits. Kent State starter Dirk Hayhurst allowed on unearned run on four hits in seven innings.
Georgia Tech and Kent State will continue the three game series on Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. each day. Live statistics will be available on the internet at www.ramblinwreck.com.
