April 20, 2002
Nick Rogers drove in four runs, and Florida State scored 11 runs in its final three at bats as the eighth-ranked Seminoles (37-12, 5-6 ACC) defeated fifth-ranked Georgia Tech (32-7, 8-5), 14-9, on Saturday afternoon at Dick Howser Stadium. The win was the second straight in the series for the Seminoles.
Florida State reliever Robby Read (6-1) earned the win in relief, while Kevin Lynch picked up his first save of the season after recording the final four outs of the game.
Tech reliever Brian Burks (6-3) took the loss, allowing three runs in one inning of work.
All nine Florida State starters had at least one hit in the game, including two hits apiece from six different players. Tony Richie drove in three runs, while Mike Futrell and Blair McCaleb added two RBI apiece.
The Yellow Jackets, who collected 17 hits in the game, were led by three-hit performances from Jeremy Slayden, Jason Perry and Brandon Boggs. For the second consecutive game, Tech outhit the Seminoles but still lost the game.
Georgia Tech took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a RBI single by Perry that scored Slayden. The Yellow Jackets added another run in the second inning to make the score 2-0 when Clifton Remole scored on a sacrifice fly from Victor Menocal.
Florida State answered with three runs of its own in the fourth inning to make the score 3-2. McCaleb had a RBI double, Rogers drove in a run with a groundout, while the final run scored on an error by Tech’s Perry in left field.
The Yellow Jackets tied the score at 3-3 in the fifth inning on a solo home run from Slayden, his team-leading 13th of the season.
Florida State answered with three runs in the sixth inning to take a 6-3 lead. Rogers and a RBI triple before Futrell belted a two-run homer to left field, his fifth of the season.
Georgia Tech tied the score at 6-6 in the seventh inning, with all of the scoring coming after two outs. Tyler Parker led off the inning with a walk, and Perry and Brandon Boggs hit back-to-back singles to load the bases. After Matthew Boggs grounded into a double play, Wes Rynders drove in two runs with a double off of the right field fence. Mike Nickeas plated Rynders with a RBI single to bring in the final run of the inning.
The Seminoles took the lead again in the bottom half of the seventh inning, scoring four times to make the score 10-6. With one out, Tony McQuade singled, moved to third on a single by Ryan Barthelemy, and eventually scored on a double steal. A RBI single by McCaleb and a two-RBI double by Richie capped the inning.
A two-run home run by Tyler Parker, his eighth of the year, and a RBI single by Matthew Boggs cut the FSU lead to 10-9 in the top of the eighth inning.
The Seminoles immediately answered with four insurance runs in the bottom half of the eighth inning to make the score 14-9. Rogers delivered the big blow of the inning, driving in two runs with a bases-loaded single.
Georgia Tech and Florida State will conclude the three-game series at 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. Live radio broadcasts for the game 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.
