March 8, 2004
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ATLANTA–Georgia Tech (8-5), ranked 17th in the nation by Baseball America, hosts Western Carolina (7-6) for a two-game midweek series at Russ Chandler Stadium. The series takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday at 4 p.m. each day.
The Yellow Jackets opened the year 6-0 before dropping four straight games away from home against Southern California, No. 13 Cal State Fullerton, Oklahoma and No. 9 Auburn. Tech rebounded with two wins in three games over Rutgers last weekend, and the Yellow Jackets are 6-1 at home in 2004.
Following the midweek series against the Catamounts, the Yellow Jackets will continue their 10-game homestand this weekend with a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series against Virginia.
Game Coverage: Live statistics will be available on the internet at www.ramblinwreck.com.
LEADING OFF … NEWS & NOTES ON THE YELLOW JACKETS
*** Georgia Tech is ranked as high as No. 17 in the nation by Baseball America … Tech has been ranked in the preseason Top 25 by at least one of the three major polls (Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball and Baseball Weekly) in all 11 seasons under head coach Danny Hall … The Yellow Jackets have been ranked in the preseason Top 10 in seven of the last nine seasons, including a Top 5 ranking in three of the last four years.
*** After struggling offensively in a four-game losing streak (.183 average, seven runs scored), the Yellow Jackets snapped out of its skid with an improved offensive showing in three games against Rutgers last weekend. Tech hit .336 in the series against the Scarlet Knights, scoring 24 runs (8.0 per game) while doing a much better job of putting the ball in play (12 K’s in three games). Freshman 3B Wes Hodges led the offensive charge, batting .778 (7-for-9), while junior C Mike Nickeas hit .538 (7-for-13) and junior CF Brandon Boggs hit .455 (4-for-11).
*** Head coach Danny Hall has used 12 different starting lineups in 13 games this season.
*** Tech has used 14 different pitchers in the first 13 games of the season, including 13 pitchers who have made at least three appearances.
*** Pitching patchups for the two-game series: Tuesday: LHP Ryan Turner (0-1, 8.44) vs. LHP Brian Barnes (1-1, 8.10); Wednesday: RHP Jason Neighborgall (0-0, 22.50) vs. TBA.
GEORGIA TECH VS. WESTERN CAROLINA
*** Georgia Tech leads Western Carolina, 14-12, in a series that dates to 1973. With the exception a matchup in the 1986 NCAA Atlantic Regional in Miami, 25 of the 26 games in the series have been played in Atlanta.
*** The Yellow Jackets and Catamounts played most recently in April of 2002, a 2-1 Georgia Tech victory.
*** Tech has won three straight games in the series, allowing just one run in those three games. Prior to the current streak, Western Carolina won three of four games from 1993 through 1997.
*** Tech is 4-2 against Western Carolina under head coach Danny Hall.
