Feb. 17, 2004
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ATLANTA–Coming off a two game sweep of Georgia Southern last weekend, fifth-ranked Georgia Tech (2-0) opens the 2004 home schedule on Wednesday at 4 p.m. against in-state foe Savannah State (5-1). The Yellow Jackets defeated Georgia Southern 15-6 in the first game before rallying for a 5-4, 10-inning win in game two. Savannah State swept a doubleheader from Maryland-Eastern Shore on Monday afternoon.
Tech returns eight of nine position starters and 20 letterwinners overall from the 2003 team that captured the Atlantic Coast Conference championship. Headlining that group are five players who were named to Baseball America’s preseason All-America team – P/DH Micah Owings (1st team), 2B Eric Patterson (1st team), RF Jeremy Slayden (1st team), C Mike Nickeas (2nd team) and SS Tyler Greene (2nd team).
Following Wednesday’s game against the Tigers, the Yellow Jackets host Villanova for a three-game series this weekend (Friday, 4 p.m.; Saturday, 1 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.).
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. 5 in the nation … 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.
*** Freshman 3B Wes Hodges, the lone newcomer to crack the opening day lineup, had an impressive debut in a doubleheader at Georgia Southern last weekend. In game one, Hodges went 2-for-5 including a grand slam, while he had the game-winning RBI single in the 10th inning to give the Yellow Jackets a 5-4 win in game two.
*** Tech’s sweep of Georgia Southern give the Yellow Jackets a 16-game winning streak over Eagles in Statesboro, having not lost at J.I. Clements Stadium since the 1996 season. Tech has won 22 of the last 23 games played between the two schools.
*** Georgia Tech and Savannah State are meeting for the first time on Wednesday. The two schools attempted to play on two occasions last season, but were rained out on both dates.
STARTING PITCHER NOTES
Fifth-year senior Philip Perry will make his first appearance of the season in a start against Savannah State on Wednesday afternoon. The right-hander will be making his first appearance since June, 2002, after sitting out the entire 2003 season while recovering from “Tommy John” elbow surgery.
Perry is making his first start since Feb. 17, 2002, when he worked four scoreless innings against Tennessee Tech to earn the victory. He is 7-2 in 11 career starts, including a 2-0 mark in two career starts in the postseason (ACC Tournament).
After undergoing elbow surgery in the fall of 2002, Perry returned to the mound in the fall of 2003. He has worked his way back to 100% and has been very impressive in preseason practice, displaying good velocity and command.
VERSUS THE STATE OF GEORGIA
Georgia Tech is 2-0 against teams from the state of Georgia in 2004, sweeping two games from Georgia Southern last weekend. Since 1999, Georgia Tech owns a 52-11 (.825) record against its in-state foes. The Yellow Jackets are 94-28 (.770) against teams from Georgia in 11 years under head coach Danny Hall.
HOME, SWEET HOME
Georgia Tech has had great success at home in the history of Russ Chandler Stadium, winning better than 80% of its home games since the facility first opened in 1985. The Yellow Jackets are 21-6 at home in 2003.
Tech has been especially formidable at Russ Chandler Stadium over the last two seasons since the facility was torn down and rebuilt at a cost of $9.7 million. The Yellow Jackets won their first 22 games in their new ballpark in 2002, and Tech is 60-13 (.822) in the new Russ Chandler Stadium.
