Feb. 28, 2003
ATLANTA – Eric Patterson and Micah Owings both hit home runs and Kyle Bakker won his third game in as many starts to lead top-ranked Georgia Tech (7-0) to a 13-4 win over visiting George Washington (4-2) on Friday afternoon in the Yellow Jackets’ 2003 home opener at Russ Chandler Stadium.
Bakker improved to 3-0 in three starts in 2003 after holding the Colonials to three runs on four hits in six innings of work. The 6-9 lefty issued two walks and stuck out seven batters.
The Colonials took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a RBI double from Jeff Fertitta, but the Yellow Jackets quickly answered to take a 6-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Brandon Boggs plated two runs with a double, while Mike Nickeas and Eric Patterson each had RBI singles.
George Washington cut the lead to 6-3 with a two-run homer from Joe Michalski in the top of the fourth inning, but Tech broke the game open with five runs in the bottom of that inning to make the score 11-3. The first six Tech hitters in the inning all reached base safely, and the Yellow Jackets sent nine batters to the plate in the frame. Matt Murton drive in two runs with a bases-loaded single, and Clifton Remole and Micah Owings each had RBI singles in the inning.
A pair of solo home runs from Owings, his third of the season, and Patterson, his second, made the score 13-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning. A RBI infield single from GW’s Ryan Roberson in the eighth inning provided the final 13-4 margin.
Patterson led the Tech offense with three hits and two RBI, and Boggs, Remole, Owings and Tyler Greene each had two hits in the game. Anthony Raglani and Joe Michalski each had two hits for the Colonials in the loss. Tech outhit George Washington, 14-8.
George Washington starter Nate CasaGrande (0-1) took the loss, surrendering nine runs in three-plus innings of work.
Georgia Tech and George Washington will continue the series on Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. each day. Live statistics for the contests will be available at www.ramblinwreck.com, while the games will be carried on WREK-Radio (91.1 FM) in Atlanta.
