Feb. 15, 2002
ATLANTA – Freshman Eric Patterson went 2-for-2 with a home run and two RBI, and Kyle Bakker tossed seven strong innings to lead ninth-ranked Georgia Tech (3-0) to a 12-3 win over visiting Tennessee Tech (0-2) on Friday afternoon in the first game at the new, $9.7 million Russ Chandler Stadium. A Georgia Tech opening-day record of 1,814 fans attended the game.
Bakker improved to 2-0 in two starts on the season after holding the Golden Eagles to one earned run in seven innings of work. He struck out nine batters and did not issue a walk.
After the Golden Eagles jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a two-run homer from Britt Clubb in the top of the second inning, the Yellow Jackets exploded for six runs in the bottom o the third to take control of the game. Georgia Tech sent 11 batters to the plate in the inning, highlighted by a two-run double from Victor Menocal, a two-run single from Brandon Boggs and a RBI single from Tyler Parker. The Yellow Jackets were aided by four walks from Golden Eagle pitchers in the frame.
The Yellow Jackets added two more runs in the fourth inning to extend the lead to 8-2. Patterson led off the inning with a solo home run, the first of his career, before Matthew Boggs scored on a fielder’s choice. A RBI triple from Wes Rynders and a RBI single from Patterson made the score 10-2 in the fifth.
Tennessee Tech’s Jesse Johnson was hit by a pitch and eventually scored on a wild pitch in the eighth, and a two-run single from Georgia Tech’s Jason Perry capped off the scoring in the bottom of that inning.
Patterson, Boggs and Menocal each had two hits in the game for the Yellow Jackets. Georgia Tech rookie pitchers Kyle Schmidt and Jeff Kindel both made their collegiate debuts in the Yellow Jacket victory.
Tennessee Tech starter David Jackson (0-1) took the loss after allowing six runs in 2.2 innings.
The Yellow Jackets and Golden Eagles will continue the series on Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. each day. The first 1,000 fans on Saturday will receive commemorative baseball bats honoring the opening weekend of Russ Chandler Stadium.
