Feb. 20, 2004
ATLANTA – Micah Owings pitched seven strong innings and Eric Patterson broke open a 1-1 game with a three-run double in the seventh inning as No. 5 Georgia Tech (4-0) defeated visiting Villanova (3-1), 5-1, on Friday afternoon at Russ Chandler Stadium.
Owings improved to 2-0 in as many starts in 2004, holding the Wildcats to one run on five hits over seven innings. He struck out five batters, and for the season the right-handed has fanned 10 in 14 innings without issuing a walk.
Freshman John Goodman earned his first save of the season by tossing the final 1.2 innings and recording three strikeouts. The righty entered the game with two on and one out in the eighth inning and proceeded to strike out the next three hitters he faced. Owings, Goodman and reliever Jared Hyatt combined to hold Villanova to just six hits and nine total baserunners.
The Wildcats took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Angelo Pertacca was hit by a pitch and scored on Brian Newbold’s RBI double to center field.
Meanwhile, Villanova starter Nick Allen held the Yellow Jackets hitless through 4 1/3 innings. Tech finally broke through in the sixth and tied the score at 1-1 when Patterson doubled and scored on Steven Blackwood’s one-out RBI single up the middle. Patterson and Brandon Boggs led the Tech attack with two hits each.
Allen left the game after six innings with the score tied 1-1, and held Tech to just one run on four hits.
The Yellow Jackets broke through for four runs in the seventh inning to take control of the game, 5-1. A single from Clifton Remole and walks to Jeremy Slayden and Owings loaded the bases before Patterson drove in all three runners with a two-out double to left center field on a 3-2 pitch. Tyler Greene added an insurance run with a single to left field that scored in Patterson.
Villanova reliever Mike Grodecki (0-1) took the loss, allowing three runs in 0.2 innings.
Georgia Tech and Villanova will continue the three-game series on Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. each day. Live statistics will be available at www.ramblinwreck.com.
