April 10, 2004
ATLANTA – Georgia Tech exploded for six runs in the sixth inning and Micah Owings worked 3.2 innings of shutout relief to close out the game as the Yellow Jackets (19-14, 3-5 ACC) defeated No. 8 North Carolina (25-7, 8-3), 8-4 on Saturday evening at Russ Chandler Stadium.
Tech’s win evened the three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series at one win apiece. The Yellow Jackets scored seven or more runs for the ninth consecutive game.
Owings (4-2) earned the win in relief of starter Andrew Kown, shutting out the Tar Heels after entering the game with one out in the sixth inning. He allowed just one hit and two walks while striking out five and improved to 2-0 in two relief appearances in 2004. At the plate, Owings went 1-for-3 to extend his hitting streak to a career-long 15 games.
The Tar Heels built a 3-0 lead through the first three innings. Jay Cox doubled and scored on Marshall Hubbard’s RBI single in the first inning, and Cox drove in Greg Mangum with a RBI double in the third inning. With two outs in the third inning and runners on first and third, Cox scored when the Tar Heels executed a double steal.
Tech pulled to within 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning when Clifton Remole singled and scored on Steven Blackwood’s RBI single, and Mike Nickeas singled and scored when Whit Robbins grounded into a double play with the bases loaded.
A RBI double from Mark Ellington gave the Tar Heels a 4-2 lead in the top of the sixth inning before the Yellow Jackets exploded for six runs in the bottom of the inning to take an 8-4 lead. The Jackets, who sent 11 batters to the plate, had just two hits in the inning but were aided by four walks and two errors. Robbins had a RBI single, Tyler Greene added a sacrifice fly and Remole drove in a run with a groundout, while Brandon Boggs scored on a balk before the final two runs of the inning came courtesy of two UNC errors.
North Carolina starter Garry Bakker (2-3), who did not allow a hit through the first four innings, took the loss after surrendering six runs in 5.1 innings.
Four Tar Heels had two hits in the game – Chris Iannetta, Mangum, Cox and Hubbard – and UNC outhit Tech, 10-7. Iannetta extended his hitting streak to a career-long 21 games.
Georgia Tech and North Carolina will conclude the series on Sunday at 1 p.m.
