April 2, 2002
ATLANTA – Jeremy Slayden homered and Wes Rynders had a game-winning RBI single as sixth-ranked Georgia Tech (23-4) rallied for a 4-3, 10-inning win over visiting Georgia Southern (21-11) on Tuesday night at Russ Chandler Stadium. The victory improved the Yellow Jackets’ record to 15-0 at their new home park and extended Tech’s overall home winning streak to 20 games dating back to last season.
Tech’s victory also marked the Yellow Jackets’ 500th win in Russ Chandler Stadium. Tech is now 500-125 in the facility that was originally constructed in 1985 and then rebuilt prior to the 2002 season.
With the scored knotted at 2-2, Georgia Southern took a 3-2 lead in the top of the 10th inning when Chris Walker singled with one out, took second base on Jemel Spearman’s single through the first base hole, and then came around to score on Brandon Burnsed’s two-out RBI single.
Slayden led off Tech’s half of the 10th inning with a solo homer to right field, his team-leading eighth of the season, on a 1-2 pitch. Tyler Parker followed with a single to right field and then stole second base. Mike Nickeas put runners on first and third bases with an infield single before Rynders delivered the game-winning hit to right field that plated Parker.
Tech reliever Philip Perry (2-0) earned the win after recording the final out in the top of the tenth inning. Starter Kyle Schmidt was outstanding, holding the Eagles scoreless over eight innings while striking out a career-high 10 batters, but did not figure in the decision after Georgia Southern rallied for two runs in the ninth inning.
Georgia Southern’s Jason Cadenhead (1-1) took the loss after allowing the game-winning run.
Tech’s victory was the Yellow Jackets’ 16th-straight win over Georgia Southern dating back to 1998.
Tech took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Matt Murton singled and scored on a sacrifice fly from Brandon Boggs. The Yellow Jackets stretched the lead to 2-0 in the sixth inning after Parker tripled and scored on a sac fly from Jason Perry.
Georgia Southern rallied for two runs in the top of the ninth to send the game into extra innings. Matt Hammond singled and scored on Rocky Baker’s RBI groundout, while pinch hitter Carlos Love was hit by a pitch and eventually scored on Brendan Gilligan’s sacrifice fly.
Victor Menocal had two hits to extend his career-long hitting streak to 25 games, just three games shy of the Georgia Tech record. Matt Murton and Brandon Boggs each added two hits for the Yellow Jackets.
Chris Walker and Chad Hall each had two hits for the Eagles in the loss.
Georgia Tech and Georgia Southern will conclude the two-game series at Russ Chandler Stadium at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. A live radio broadcast can be heard on WREK-Radio (91.1 FM in Atlanta) and on the internet at www.ramblinwreck.com. Live scoring for the game will be available at www.ramblinwreck.com.
