May 16, 2004
ATLANTA – Micah Owings and Clifton Remole drove in two runs each, and Brian Burks pitched six solid innings as No. 15 Georgia Tech (34-17, 15-5 ACC) defeated No. 20 Clemson (32-21, 12-9), 8-4, on Sunday afternoon at Russ Chandler Stadium in front of a season-high 3,472 fans. The Yellow Jackets completed the three-game sweep of the Tigers and extended their season-long winning streak to 13 games.
The Yellow Jackets extended their school record with their 13th straight win in Atlantic Coast Conference play. Tech’s 13-game overall win streak is the second longest active streak in the nation.
Tech moved into a percentage points tie for first place in the ACC standings with Virginia (18-6). The Yellow Jackets can clinch the regular season championship with three wins at Maryland next weekend, while the Cavaliers have completed conference play. Tech can clinch second place with just one win at Maryland.
Tech starter Brian Burks (6-5) earned the win on Senior Day in his final regular season home start. The right-hander worked six-plus innings, allowing three runs on eight hits while striking out four. Burks improved to 4-0 in his last four decisions.
Reliever Nick Wagner picked up his second save of the season by working the final 2 2/3 innings and no allowing a run.
Five Yellow Jackets had two hits in the game – Remole, Owings, Steven Blackwood, Mike Nickeas and Jake Hall.
Clemson took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Travis Storrer singled and scored on Kris Harvey’s RBI double.
Tech answered with four runs on just two hits in the bottom of the first inning. The Yellow Jackets loaded the bases with no outs on a pair of walks and an error, and Owings drove in two runs with a double to left center field. Boggs drove in Blackwood with a RBI groundout, and Owings scored the final run of the inning on a wild pitch.
The Yellow Jackets extended the lead to 5-1 in the fourth inning when Hall singled and scored on Mike Trapani’s two-out RBI single.
Clemson cut the lead to 5-2 in the sixth inning with a solo home run from Lou Santangelo, his team-leading 15th of the year. The Tigers rallied for two runs in the seventh to make the score 5-4. Garrick Evans led off the inning with a solo home run, his second of the year, and Travis Storrer singled and scored on Harvey’s RBI double.
Tech immediately answered with three runs in the bottom of the seventh to make the score 8-4. The Yellow Jackets loaded the bases with one out with a pair of singles and an error before Clifton Remole drove in two runs with a single and White Robbins added a sacrifice fly.
Clemson starter Tyler Lumsden (3-3) took the loss, allowing five runs on seven hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings.
Georgia Tech returns to action on Tuesday at 7 p.m. when the Yellow Jackets host Georgia State. The game will be televised by Comcast Sports Southeast.
