May 17, 2004
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ATLANTA–No. 10 Georgia Tech (34-17, 15-5 ACC) hosts cross town rival Georgia State (18-32, 11-16 A-SUN) at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Russ Chandler Stadium in the Yellow Jackets’ final regular season home game of the 2004 season.
The streaking Yellow Jackets have won 13 straight games overall and a school-record 13 straight against ACC opponents to into a tie for first place in the ACC standings with Virginia (18-6). Tech can clinch first place in the regular season with three wins at Maryland this weekend, while one win over the Terrapins will lock up second place. Virginia completed its regular season conference schedule with a three-game sweep of Wake Forest last weekend.
Tech’s 13-game win streak is the longest current streak in the nation.
GAME COVERAGE: Live statistics will be available on the internet at www.ramblinwreck.com. Comcast Sports Southeast will televise Tuesday’s game. Radio coverage will be available on WREK-FM (91.1 FM in Atlanta) and on the internet at www.wrek.org.
GEORGIA TECH VS. GEORGIA STATE
*** Georgia Tech leads Georgia State, 44-5, in a series that dates to 1971. The Yellow Jackets hold a 27-1 advantage in games played on Tech’s campus. Tech and Georgia State have played a home-and-home series every year since 1993.
*** The Yellow Jackets have won eight straight against the Panthers, and 22 of the last 23 meetings since 1993. Georgia State’s lone win in that span was a 4-3 decision at Russ Chandler Stadium in 2000.
*** Tech defeated Georgia State, 25-3, on April 6 in Panthersville. Micah Owings hit a grand slam and drove in five runs, Clifton Remole went 3-for-6 with six RBI, and Tyler Greene and Mike Nickeas each hit home runs.
*** Georgia Tech swept the season series in 2003, winning by a score of 11-3 in both games.
*** Georgia Tech is 21-1 against Georgia State under head coach Danny Hall.
ON THE MOUND: Lee Hyde (lhp) 3-2, 6.37 ERA
Freshman Lee Hyde will make his seventh career start on Tuesday night against Georgia State. Hyde’s first six appearances all came in relief before he made his first career start against Purdue on Mar. 16.
In his first start against the Boilermakers, Hyde worked five innings, holding Purdue to two unearned runs on four hits. He struck out a season high five batters. On Mar. 24, Hyde faced No. 24 Georgia in his second start and carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning before giving up a pair of infield singles. Hyde earned wins in consecutive starts vs. No. 13 Auburn (Mar. 30) and No. 8 North Carolina (Apr. 11).
After nearly three weeks without starting due to a lack of midweek games around spring semester final exams, Hyde started against Georgia last Tuesday at Turner Field. He dominated the Bulldogs’ hitters for three innings before tiring in the fourth.
The Yellow Jackets are expected to use several pitchers in Tuesaday’s game against Georgia State.
STREAKING JACKETS
Georgia Tech has won 13 straight games overall and 13 straight against ACC opponents. The Yellow Jackets’ current win streak has been highlighted by a resurgence from the pitching staff, including starters working more innings and relievers holding the lead. In the current 13-game win streak, the Yellow Jackets have scored seven or more runs in 12 games, including seven games with nine or more runs. Tech is averaging 9.4 runs per game in the current win streak. The Yellow Jackets’ 13 consecutive wins against conference opponents is a new school record.
“5” – THE MAGIC NUMBER
Georgia Tech is 25-2 this season when the Yellow Jackets allow five runs or less. Tech’s only two losses when allowing five or less runs are against Virginia (3-4 and 1-2).
Since the arrival of pitching coach Bobby Moranda prior to the 2002 season, the Yellow Jackets are 97-6 when allowing five runs or less. Tech went 34-2 in 2003 and 38-2 in 2002 when allowing five runs or less. When allowing six or more runs, the Yellow Jackets are 31-45 since 2002, including a 9-15 mark this season.
VERSUS THE STATE OF GEORGIA
Georgia Tech is 7-2 against teams from the state of Georgia in 2004, posting a 3-1 record vs. Georgia Southern, a 2-1 record vs. Georgia, and a 1-0 mark vs. Savannah State and Georgia State. Since 1999, Georgia Tech owns a 57-13 (.814) record against its in-state foes. The Yellow Jackets are 99-30 (.767) against teams from Georgia in 11 years under head coach Danny Hall.
THE BROOM
Georgia Tech has swept each of the last four Atlantic Coast Conference series, and the Yellow Jackets have swept 50 weekend series since the conference adopted the current three-game round-robin format in 1987. Since 1987 Tech has won 90 of 139 (.647) ACC series, including six of seven series in 2004.
HODGES OUT INDEFINITELY WITH FACE INJURY
Freshman third baseman Wes Hodges is out indefinitely after being struck by a pitch in the face on May 11 against Georgia at Turner Field. Hodges, who started 45 of Tech’s first 48 games, has been diagnosed with four small fractures in his left cheekbone. There are currently no plans for surgery, although medical personnel continue to monitor his situation and will make a determination on his status for the remainder of the regular season and postseason at a later date.
