March 5, 2003
ATLANTA – Freshmen Micah Owens and Tyler Greene both hit home runs, and top-ranked Georgia Tech (11-0) withheld two late Campbell (3-10) rallies to hold on for a 3-1 win on Wednesday afternoon at Russ Chandler Stadium.
Georgia Tech’s 11-game winning streak to open 2003 ties for the second best mark to start a season. The Yellow Jackets set a school record with a 16-0 start in 1987 and also went 11-0 to open the 1985 season.
Andrew Kown (1-0) worked six shutout innings in his first career start to earn his first career win. He allowed three hits, all singles, and did not issue a walk while striking out five batters. Kyle Schmidt worked 1.2 scoreless innings, while Jeff Watchko recorded the final four outs of the game, allowing one unearned run, to record his second save of the season. The trio allowed just two runners to advance past second base in the game.
A solo home run from Greene, his fourth of the year, gave the Yellow Jackets a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Jeremy Slayden drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the sixth before Owings belted a two-run homer to straight away center field, his fourth of the year.
Campbell mounted a rally in the top of the eighth inning when the Camels loaded the bases with two outs on a double and a pair of walks, but Watchko came out of the Tech bullpen to retire Tom Rispoli for the third out in the inning. The Camels again rallied in the top of the ninth, putting runners on first and third bases with no outs after a pair of singles by Josh Cotton and Jason Brown and a fielding error by Tech center fielder Brandon Boggs. After Kyle Ellenz fouled out, a sacrifice fly from Derek Barrows scored pinch runner Lonnie Whithead before Chris Wiley flied out to end the game.
Campbell starter Matt Kleweno (1-2) was the tough luck loser after allowing just one run in four innings. Kleweno, Andrew Barrows, Jeff Stovall and Brandon Yates combined to allow just three hits in the game, although two left the yard for home runs.
Georgia Tech returns to action this weekend when the Yellow Jackets host Rutgers for a three-game series. First pitch for Friday’s game is set for 4 p.m., Saturday’s game will begin at 12 noon, and Sunday’s game will start at 1:30 p.m. Live statistics for the entire series will be available at www.ramblinwreck.com.
