Feb. 18, 2004
ATLANTA – Micah Owings’ three-run home run highlighted a six run first inning as fifth ranked Georgia Tech (3-0) defeated visiting Savannah State (5-2), 13-4, on Wednesday afternoon at Russ Chandler Stadium.
Tech starter Philip Perry (1-0), making his first appearance since 2002 after undergoing elbow surgery last year, earned the victory after holding Savannah State to one run on four hits in five innings. Perry struck out six and did not issue a walk, retiring 10 straight batters from the first through the fifth innings.
Owings paced the Tech offense with a 3-for-5 afternoon, tying a career high with four RBI. Eric Patterson went 3-for-4 and Tyler Greene and Steven Blackwood added two hits apiece.
The Yellow Jackets jumped on the Tigers early for six runs in the first inning. Tech sent 10 batters to the plate, highlighted Owings first home run of the season, a RBI triple from Wes Hodges and RBI singles by Steven Blackwood and Clifton Remole.
Tech added two more runs in the fourth inning on Tyler Greene’s double and Mike Nickeas’ sacrifice fly to push the lead to 8-0.
The Tigers broke up the shutout in the fifth inning when Tim Page singled and scored on Rafael Blanco’s RBI double.
Two runs in the seventh inning on RBI groundouts from Jeremy Slayden and Brandon Boggs made the score 10-1. The Yellow Jackets added three more runs in the eighth on RBI singles from Blackwood and Owings and a sacrifice fly from Nickeas.
Savannah State scored three runs in the ninth inning without putting the ball in play off Tech reliever Jason Neighborgall to provide the final 13-4 margin.
Tigers’ starter Carlos Markyna (0-2) went the distance and took the loss, allowing 13 runs on 14 hits in eight innings while throwing 158 pitches.
The Yellow Jackets will host Villanova for a three-game series beginning on Friday at 4 p.m. The series continues on Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. each day, while live statistics for all three games will be available on the internet at www.ramblinwreck.com.
