April 2, 2004
ATLANTA – Mike Nickeas had a grand slam and Tyler Greene drove in four runs as Georgia Tech (17-11) defeated visiting Miami (22-6), 17-4, Friday night in the series opener at Russ Chandler Stadium.
Wes Hodges led the Jackets with three hits on the afternoon, while Eric Patterson and Greene added two apiece in a game in which every Georgia Tech starter had at least one hit.
Brian Burks (2-2) earned his second win of the season after pitching 6.2 innings and allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out seven Hurricane batters and walking one. Nick Wagner and Jared Hyatt combined to toss the final 2.1 innings, allowing no runs and no hits while striking out three Miami batters.
Eric Patterson led off the first inning with a single, moved to second base on a balk by Miami starter Dan Touchet, and scored on an RBI single up the middle by Hodges. The Jackets then loaded the bases when Brandon Boggs reached on a fielder’s choice, Micah Owings walked, and Steven Blackwood was hit by pitch. Nickeas then drove a 2-1 pitch over the left field fence for a grand slam, his third home run of the season, to give the Jackets a 5-0 lead at the end of the first inning.
The Jackets posted a six-run fifth inning to make the score 11-0. The inning was highlighted by an RBI double from Blackwood, an RBI single by Greene, and four walks issued by Touchet and freshman reliever Ricky Orta.
Miami’s Jim Burt hit a three-run home run and Gaby Sanchez had an RBI single in the sixth inning to close the gap to 11-4. Paco Figueroa led off the inning with a walk, moved to second on a single by Jon Jay, and then scored on Burt’s sixth home run of the season. Brian Barton followed Burt with a double down the left field line, moved to third on a groundout by Ryan Braun, and scored on a line drive from Sanchez.
Georgia Tech added another run in the sixth inning to extend the lead to 12-4. Blackwood earned a one-out walk, moved to third on a single up the middle by Clifton Remole, and scored when reliever Chris Perez committed an error when trying to pickoff Remole from first base.
Owings delivered a two-out RBI single and later scored on an error, and Tyler Greene drove in three runs with a bases-loaded double as the Jackets added five more runs in the seventh inning, making the score 17-4.
Touchet (4-1) earned his first loss of the season, giving up nine runs on seven hits and three walks in 4.1 innings of work.
The Jackets and Hurricanes will continue the series with a 1 p.m. start tomorrow, which is a change from the previously scheduled start time due to Georgia Tech’s Final Four game. Andrew Kown (4-1) is scheduled to start for Georgia Tech, and he will face Miami’s Cesar Carrillo (4-0) in a game that will be aired on WREK-Radio (91.1 FM in Atlanta) and on the internet at www.wrek.org. Live statistics will be available at www.ramblinwreck.com.
