April 7, 2002
ATLANTA – Matt Murton had four hits and drove in four runs and Victor Menocal established a new school record with a 29-game hitting streak as sixth-ranked Georgia Tech (27-4, 6-2 ACC) defeated Duke (17-16, 0-6), 15-7, on Sunday afternoon at Russ Chandler Stadium. The victory, which completed a three-game sweep of the Blue Devils, improved the Yellow Jackets’ record to 19-0 at their new home park and extended Tech’s overall home winning streak to 24 games dating back to last season.
Menocal went 2-for-4 in the game to extend his career-long hitting streak to 29 games and eclipse the previous Tech record of 28 games set by Carlton Fleming in 1990. The senior shortstop has hit safely in all but one game during the 2002 season.
Tech starter Kyle Schmidt (3-0) earned the win despite getting into trouble in the first inning. Schmidt, who allowed six runs in five innings in the game, surrendered four runs in the first but settled down to hold Duke scoreless over the next four innings. Tech relievers Philip Perry, Jordan Crews, Drew Taylor and Nick Wagner combined to hold the Blue Devils to one run over the final four innings.
After the Blue Devils jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first, the Yellow Jackets immediately answered with three runs in the bottom of the first. Murton delivered a RBI single and Brandon Boggs added a sacrifice fly, while Jason Perry drove in a run when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
The score remained 4-3 until the Yellow Jackets broke the game open with a seven-run fifth inning. Tech sent 12 batters to the plate in the inning that was highlighted by a two-run single from Mike Nickeas, RBI doubles from Jeremy Slayden and Tyler Parker, and a RBI single from Murton.
The Yellow Jackets added four more runs in the seventh, highlighted by a two-run single from Murton, making the score 15-6.
Murton led all players with four hits, while Jason Perry added three hits and Menocal, Slayden and Eric Patterson had two hits apiece.
Duke starter Jeff Alleva (4-4) took the loss, allowing 10 runs on 10 hits in 4.2 innings.
Georgia Tech will return to action when the Yellow Jackets visit Auburn on Tuesday at 7 p.m. EDT in a game that will be televised live by Fox Sports Net South. 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.
