March 9, 2002
ATLANTA – Left fielder Matt Murton drove in three runs on three hits and Georgia Tech (12-1) used a four run seventh inning as the fifth-ranked Yellow Jackets rallied for a 7-5 win over visiting Winthrop (8-8) on Saturday afternoon at Russ Chandler Stadium.
Tech’s Chris Goodman (1-0) picked up the victory in relief after holding the Eagles to one run in five innings of work. He allowed four hits and struck out six batters without issuing a walk. Jeff Watchko earned the save in his first relief appearance of the season by recording the final three outs.
Winthrop jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning with four unearned runs and without the ball ever leaving the infield. Kyle Roberson had a RBI single in the inning, and the Eagles were aided by two Tech errors, two walks, a hit batsman, wild pitch and passed ball.
A sacrifice fly from Tyler Parker made the score 4-1 in the bottom of the first inning.
The score remained 4-1 until the Yellow Jackets mounted a rally in the bottom of the seventh. Tech loaded the bases with no outs after Jeremy Slayden singled and Eric Patterson and Matthew Boggs both walked. A wild pitch scored Slayden, and a RBI groundout from Victor Menocal drove in Patterson to make the score 4-3. Murton tied the game with a RBI single to left center field and took third base on a single from Tyler Parker. Brandon Boggs gave the Yellow Jackets a 5-4 lead with an infield single between the first baseman and the pitcher.
Tech added two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth on a two-out, two-run single from Murton, who finished the game 3-for-5.
The Eagle mounted a comeback in the top of the ninth inning, trimming the lead to 7-5 with a RBI groundout from Carlos de la Rionda before Watchko came out of the bullpen to stop the rally and preserve the Tech victory.
Winthrop’s Ryan Nasiatka (0-1) took the loss, surrendering one run in 0.1 innings.
Heavy rains delayed the game for 2:09 in the middle of the third inning.
Georgia Tech and Winthrop will conclude the three-game series on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Russ Chandler Stadium. Live scoring for the game will be available at www.ramblinwreck.com.
