April 27, 2002
ATLANTA – Brandon Boggs’ one-out pinch-hit single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 12th inning lifted 10th-ranked Georgia Tech (35-9, 9-7 ACC) to a 3-2 win over visiting Virginia (23-22, 8-9 ACC) on Saturday night at Russ Chandler Stadium. The Yellow Jackets victory evened the three-game series at one win apiece following the Cavaliers 5-1 win on Friday night.
With the score knotted at 2-2, Tech’s Tyler Parker led off the bottom of the 12th inning with a double to left center field. After Jason Perry struck out, a single from Wes Rynders put runners on first and third bases. The Cavaliers elected to intentionally walk Mike Nickeas to load the bases with one out before Boggs delivered the game winning hit to right field past a drawn in infield.
Tech reliever Jeff Watchko (7-1) earned the win after holding the Cavaliers to one unearned run in the final five innings of the game. He allowed four hits and one walk while striking out five batters. Starter Kyle Schmidt allowed just one unearned run and struck out nine batters in seven innings but did not figure in the decision.
Georgia Tech took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning without the benefit of a hit. Eric Patterson led off the inning with a walk, stole second base, and advanced to third on a wild pickoff attempt before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Victor Menocal.
The Cavaliers tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the third with an unearned run. David Stone led off the inning with a double and came around to score on a throwing error by Tech’s Schmidt. Virginia went ahead 2-1 in the eighth inning when Matt Street singled, moved to second on a failed pickoff attempt by Watchko, and scored on a RBI single by Robert Word.
The Yellow Jackets immediately answered with a run in the bottom of the eighth inning when Mike Nickeas hit a solo home run, his second of the season, to tie the score at 2-2.
Virginia’s Alan Zimmerer (1-1) took the loss in relief, allowing one run on four hits in three innings. Starter Joe Koshansky pitched well, allowing two runs in 7.2 innings while striking out a career-high nine batters, but was not a factor in the final outcome of the game.
The 12-inning contest was Tech’s longest since playing 12 innings against Florida State on April 18, 1997.
Georgia Tech and Virginia will play the rubber match of the three-game series at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. A live radio broadcast for the game can be heard on WREK-Radio (91.1 FM in Atlanta) and on the internet at www.ramblinwreck.com. Live scoring for the game will be available at www.ramblinwreck.com.
