May 21, 2004
ABERDEEN, Md. – Micah Owings pitched seven strong innings and Whit Robbins and Steven Blackwood drove in two runs each to lead No. 10 Georgia Tech (36-17, 16-5 ACC) to a 10-2 win over Maryland (21-30, 4-18) on Friday night at Ripken Stadium in the opener of a three game series. The Yellow Jackets extended the nation’s longest win streak to 15 games, including a school-record 14 straight wins in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
With the win, Georgia Tech clinched at least second place in the ACC regular season standings. The Yellow Jackets can win the regular season race with two more wins over Maryland. Virginia (18-6) has already completed its regular season schedule, and the Cavaliers stand in second place by percentage points.
Florida State (15-8) clinched third place on Friday with a win over Wake Forest and a North Carolina loss to NC State. North Carolina (13-10) and Clemson (13-10) will meet in the #4/#5-seed game in the first round of the ACC Tournament, while NC State (11-11) is locked into sixth place. Duke (8-15) will finish the regular season seventh, while Maryland and Wake Forest (4-19) will meet in the #8/#9-seed first round game next Tuesday night. All of these schools will conclude their regular seasons on Saturday.
Owings (8-2) won his sixth straight decision and improved to 4-0 in his last five starts. The right-hander worked seven innings and allowed two runs on six hits. He struck out six and did not issue a walk. Jordan Crews pitched the final two innings of the game and did not allow a run.
Robbins, Mike Trapani and Brandon Boggs each had two hits in the game.
The Yellow Jackets took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning without the aid of a hit. Eric Patterson drew a walk to lead off the game before stealing second base, his ACC-leading 41st steal of the year and his 26th consecutive stolen bases without being caught. After moving to third on a wild pitch, Patterson scored on Blackwood’s RBI groundout.
Boggs walked, stole second base and scored on Robbins’ two-out RBI single to give Tech a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning.
Maryland’s Will Frazier singled and scored on Kevin Hart’s RBI double to make the score 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth. The Terrapins tied the score at 2-2 in the fifth with consecutive two-out doubles from Truan Mehl and Elliott Singletary.
Tech retook the lead, 4-2, with a pair of unearned runs in the sixth. After the first two hitters were quickly retired, Clifton Remole reached on an error by Maryland shortstop Elliott Singletary. Mike Nickeas followed with a RBI double and scored on Robbins’ second two-out RBI single of the game.
The Yellow Jackets extended the lead to 5-2 in the seventh inning when Micah Owings drew a two-out walk and scored after consecutive infield singles from Boggs and Clifton Remole.
Tech broke the game open with four runs in the eighth, extending the lead to 9-2. The Yellow Jackets sent nine batters to the plate in the inning, highlighted by a RBI single from Owings and a pair of RBI from Patterson and Blackwood on fielder’s choice ground balls.
A ninth inning solo home run from Trapani, his second of the year, provided the final 10-2 margin.
Maryland starter Ben Pfinsgraff (4-4) took the loss despite a solid effort. The right-hander worked 6.2 innings and allowed four runs, two of which were earned, while striking out six in his first start against an ACC opponent.
Hart led the Terrapins’ offense with a perfect 4-for-4 night, including a two doubles.
Georgia Tech and Maryland will continue the three-game series at Ripken Stadium on Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
