May 3, 2003
ATLANTA – Chris Hart had a two-run single to highlight a five run seventh inning as No. 2 Florida State (39-7-1, 12-4 ACC) to 7-1 win over No. 10 Georgia Tech (32-12, 11-5) on Saturday afternoon at Russ Chandler Stadium in the resumption of a game suspended on Friday night. The two teams will play the second game of the series later Saturday evening.
After being halted at 8:01 p.m. on Friday night due to rain and lightning, the game was resumed at 4:19 p.m. on Saturday afternoon with one out in the bottom of the third inning and the Seminoles leading, 1-0.
FSU reliever Daniel Davidson (8-0), who entered the game when it was resumed in the bottom of the third inning on Saturday, earned the win after working 5.2 innings and allowing just one run. Starter Trent Peterson worked 2.1 scoreless innings Friday night before leaving when the game was halted. Eddie Cannon worked a scoreless ninth inning to close out the game, and trio of Seminole pitchers held the Yellow Jackets to just four hits.
Florida State scored the game’s only run on Friday in the top of the third by loading the bases against Tech starter Kyle Bakker with a hit batsman and two walks. Tony McQuade bounced back to Bakker, but the lefthander threw to first instead of attempting to force the runner at home, allowing Aaron Cheesman to score. After an intentional walk to re-load the bases, Bakker then induced a double-play grounder from Jerrod Brown to end the inning.
The Seminoles extended the lead to 2-0 in the sixth inning with an unearned run off Tech reliever Aaron Walker. A walk to Tony Richie and a single from Jarrod Brown put runners on first and second bases with no outs. Blake Balkcom flew out and Walker appeared to work out of the jam by inducing a potential double play ground ball from Chris Hart, but third baseman Jake Hall threw wildly to second base which allowed Richie to score.
The Yellow Jackets broke up the shutout in the bottom of the sixth inning and cut the lead to 2-1. Tyler Greene legged out a bunt single with one out and moved to second base on Eric Patterson’s sacrifice bunt. Jake Hall drove in Greene with a two-out RBI single to center field.
Florida State answered immediately with five runs in the top of the seventh to take control of the game with a 7-1 lead. Mark Sauls singled and Stephen Drew followed with a RBI triple to start the inning. Hart drove in two runs with a single, Balkcom added a RBI double and Brown drove in a run with a RBI groundout.
Tech starter Kyle Bakker (7-1) took the loss despite allowing just one run in three innings and leaving the game when it was suspended Friday night. The loss for Bakker was his first in 19 starts dating back to April, 26, 2002, and it snapped an 11 decision winning streak.
Georgia Tech and Florida State will continue the three-game series on Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Live statistics can be found on the internet at www.ramblinwreck.com.
