Feb. 27, 2004
FULLERTON, Calif. – Freshman Ian Kennedy struck out 10 batters in five innings and Joey Metropoulos hit two home runs as Southern California (3-5) defeated third-ranked Georgia Tech (6-1), 9-2, on Friday afternoon at Goodwin Field in the opening game of the Kia Baseball Bash.
Kennedy (2-0) dominated Tech’s hitters for five innings, holding the Yellow Jackets to two runs on five hits. He allowed just three batters to advance past second base while walking one and fanning seven through the first three innings.
Josh Rummonds earned his second save of the season by holding Tech scoreless over the final four innings of the game. The left-hander allowed just two hits and struck out four batters.
Both teams scored in the first inning as the two starting pitchers – Kennedy and Tech’s Micah Owings – struggled to find the strike zone early.
The Yellow Jackets struck for a 1-0 lead in the top of the inning when Tyler Greene walked and scored on Clifton Remole’s two-out RBI single, but the Trojans answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 3-1 lead. Michael Moon singled and Jon Brewster doubled to lead off the inning, and Owings allowed all three runs to score on a pair of walks and a wild pitch that all came with the bases loaded.
From there both starting pitchers settled down and did not allow a run over the next three innings.
A solo home run from freshman Wes Hodges, his second of the season, pulled the Yellow Jackets to within 3-2 in the top of the fifth inning. But USC’s Joey Metropoulos answered with a solo homer to make the score 4-2 in the bottom of the inning.
The Trojans added two insurance runs in the sixth to extend the lead to 6-2. Daniel Perales drew a walk to lead off the inning, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Michael Moon’s RBI single to center field. Moon, who took second on center fielder Brandon Boggs’ fielding error and advanced to third on a groundout, scored on a wild pitch while the Yellow Jackets were attempting to issue an intentional walk.
Three more runs in the eighth inning extended USC’s lead to 9-2. Perales singled and scored on a wild pitch, and Moon was hit by a pitch and scored on Jon Brewster’s sacrifice fly for the second run of the inning. Metropoulos belted his second home run of the game and his fourth of the season for the final run in the inning.
Owings (2-1) suffered his first loss of the season after allowing four runs in five innings despite striking out a season high eight batters.
Georgia Tech will face host Cal State Fullerton in day two of the Kia Baseball Bash on Sunday at 7 p.m. (PST). Live statistics will be available at www.ramblinwreck.com.
