April 13, 2004
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ATLANTA–Georgia Tech (20-14) hosts in-state rival Georgia (20-13) on Wednesday night in the second of three scheduled games between the two schools during the regular season. First pitch at Russ Chandler Stadium is set for 7 p.m.
Tech has won 11 of its last 16 games, including taking two of three from eighth-ranked North Carolina over the weekend. Georgia enters the Wednesday’s game after losing three games to No. 20 Tennessee over the weekend.
Following Wednesday’s game, Georgia Tech will host Pac-10 foe Washington for a three-game series this weekend.
GAME COVERAGE: Live statistics will be available on the internet at www.ramblinwreck.com. Radio coverage for Wednesday’s game can be found on WQXI-Radio (790 AM in Atlanta) and on the internet at www.790thezone.com.
LEADING OFF … NEWS & NOTES ON THE YELLOW JACKETS
WEB GEMS: The Yellow Jackets are fielding .972 as a team in 2004, committing 36 errors in 34 games. Tech’s best fielding percentage since records were kept in the 1950’s is .968, which was accomplished by the 1994 team that played for the national championship and featured Nomar Garciaparra, Jason Varitek and Jay Payton. The Yellow Jackets have committed one error or less in 23 of 34 games, including 15 errorless games. In nine conference games, Tech is fielding .985 (five errors in nine games).
THE LINEUP CARD: Head coach Danny Hall has used 29 different starting lineups in 34 games this season.
IN THE BULLPEN: Tech has used 15 different pitchers this season, including 11 pitchers who have made at least eight appearances. All 15 pitchers have made at least six appearances, and Blake Wood will be the eighth different pitcher to start at least one game.
HOT OF LATE: The Jackets have gone 11-5 in the last 13 games and are hitting .368 as a team during that span. Georgia Tech has averaged 11.8 runs per game while hitting 23 home runs and stealing 27 bases in those games.
Five Yellow Jackets are hitting at least .375 in the span, led by sophomore Micah Owings (.423 avg., .915 slg%, 10 HR, 31 RBI). Second baseman Eric Patterson (.411), left fielder Steven Blackwood (.406), right fielder Clifton Remole (.397) and center fielder Brandon Boggs (.375) are all hitting over .375 in the last 16 games.
GEORGIA TECH VS. GEORGIA
*** Georgia leads Georgia Tech, 183-140-2, in a series that dates to 1898. The Yellow Jackets hold an 80-65-1 advantage in games played in Atlanta, while the Bulldogs hold a 49-106 edge in Athens. Tech and Georgia have played every year since 1946 when the series was suspended for three years during World War II.
*** The 325-game series is Tech’s longest against any opponent. The Yellow Jackets’ next longest series are 222 games against Auburn and 176 games against Clemson.
*** Tech won the first meeting of 2004, a 4-3 decision in Athens on Mar. 24. Trailing 3-2, Eric Patterson drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single in the top of the ninth inning. Patterson went 3-for-5 in the game, and Micah Owings added a home run. Georgia freshman Josh Morris had a three-run homer.
*** Georgia won both meetings during the 2003 season, an 8-4 decision at Russ Chandler Stadium on Apr. 23 and a 10-3 win at Turner Field on May 13. The May 7 game in Athens was canceled due to a conflict in Georgia’s final exam schedule.
*** The Yellow Jackets won five of six meetings between the two schools in 2002, including the final five games of the year. Tech won three of four during the regular season and sweeping a pair of games in the NCAA Atlanta Regional.
*** Tech has had the upper hand in the series in recent years, posting a 38-22 record against Georgia since 1988. The Yellow Jackets either won or split the annual regular season series every year from 1988-2000 until the Bulldogs took four of five games in 2001.
*** Georgia Tech is 25-15 against Georgia under head coach Danny Hall.
