March 3, 2002
ATLANTA – Freshman Jeremy Slayden homered and drove in four runs to lead seventh-ranked Georgia Tech (9-1) to a 12-5 win over visiting Georgia State on Sunday afternoon at Russ Chandler Stadium.
Tech starter Kyle Bakker improved to 4-0 in his fourth start of the season. The southpaw went six innings and allowed four runs, three of which were earned, and struck out five batters.
After Georgia State jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a two-run homer from Dustin Phillips, his second of the year, in the top of the third inning, Tech exploded for nine runs in the fourth. A three-run homer from Slayden , his third, gave the Yellow Jackets a 3-2 lead before two walks and one hit batter with the bases loaded made the score 6-2. A two-run double from Clifton Remole and a RBI single from Slayden capped the scoring in an inning that featured 11 straight Tech batters that reached base safely.
Georgia State trimmed the lead to 9-4 with an unearned run in the fifth inning and a sacrifice fly from Michael Nelson in the sixth. A solo homer from Garrett Greer, his second of the season, made the score 9-5 in the top of the eighth.
Tech put the game away with three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, making the score 12-5. Freshman Mike Nickeas drove in two runs with a bases loaded single before fellow rookie Eric Patterson drove in the final run of the game with a sacrifice fly. Brandon Boggs went a perfect 3-for-3 while Tech freshman had nine of the Yellow Jackets’ 12 RBI in the game.
Georgia State starter Ronnie Robinson (1-1) took the loss, allowing eight runs on five hits and four walks in 3.1 innings.
Georgia Tech will return to action when the Yellow Jackets host East Tennessee State on Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Russ Chandler Stadium. Live scoring for the game will be available at www.ramblinwreck.com.
