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#17 Georgia Tech Pulls Out 5-2 Victory Over Virginia In Game Two
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May 10, 2003
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Virginia baseball team dropped a hard-fought 5-2 decision to the #17 ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the second contest of a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium. The Yellow Jackets inched out to a 2-0 lead through six and a half innings of play before the Cavaliers came back to tie the contest at 2-2 through seven innings of play. However, Georgia Tech rallied to score three runs in the top of the eighth inning to come away with a three-run victory and took a 2-0 lead in the ACC series.
The Yellow Jackets got on the scoreboard first in the top of the third inning and took a 1-0 lead when Steven Blackwood connected on a double to right-center field before he came around to score a run one batter later on a RBI-hit to right field by teammate Matt Murton.
Georgia Tech pulled out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the seventh inning when Eric Patterson walked to reach base to start off the side before he scored a run on a stolen base attempt three batters later. With Clifton Remole at the plate and Murton on first and Patterson on third, UVa pitcher Greg Hansard struck out Remole but Murton successfully stole second base and Patterson came down the third base line to steal home. Patterson got to the plate under the tag of Virginia catcher Scott Headd after a throw from second base to give GT a 2-0 lead.
After going 17 consecutive innings without scoring a run, UVa finally manufactured two runs and tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning. After the Cavaliers’ Headd and Werman reached base on back-to-back walks, Virginia’s Miguel Luina entered the game as a pinch-runner for Headd on second base. One batter later, Matt Street made the score 2-1 when he connected on a RBI-single to center field to drive in Luina for the Cavaliers’ first run of the game. UVa’s Werman then scored a run from third base after he crossed the plate on a wild pitch by GT relief pitcher Brian Burks to knot the score at 2-2 through seven complete innings of play.
However, Georgia Tech regained the lead for good and made it a 5-2 ballgame in the top of the eighth inning. After a costly UVa error kept the inning alive, Georgia Tech loaded the bases with two outs. The Yellow Jackets’ Blackwood then lined a three-run double to the gap in right-center field that cleared the bases to give GT a three-run lead that it would not relinquish.
UVa’s starting pitcher Chris Gale pitched a superb game in a no-decision after going 6.0 innings and allowed just one run while scattering seven hits while striking out a season-high eight batters. UVa’s Gabe Spooner (0-3) took the loss after going 1.0 inning and allowed two runs (both unearned) with one strikeout.
Georgia Tech starting pitcher Kyle Bakker also had a solid outing and went 6.1 strong innings in a no-decision. Bakker scattered four hits and surrendered two runs (both runs scored resulting from two walks) and struck out four batters. GT’s Burks (4-1) picked up the win after going 2.2 innings and allowed no runs on two hits with a team-high five strikeouts.
With the loss, Virginia’s record falls to 26-20 overall, 9-10 in the ACC. The win improves Georgia Tech’s record to 36-13 overall, 14-6 in the conference. The victory secures the series for the Yellow Jackets giving GT a 2-0 lead following its 7-0 shutout victory on Friday (May 9th).
The Cavaliers and Yellow Jackets will return to action on Sunday, May 11th when Virginia and Georgia Tech play the final contest of the three-game ACC series. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium.
— UVa —