Hurricanes Register Comeback Win Over Georgia Tech, 9-7
April 3, 2004
ATLANTA — The fifth-ranked Miami Hurricanes overcame a five-run deficit to Georgia Tech in the sixth inning to register a 9-7 win in front of 1,995 fans at Russ Chandler Stadium Saturday afternoon.
UM senior George Huguet came on to record the final six outs and record his 38th career save to break Rick Raether (1984-86) school record. The save was Huguet’s seventh of the season, facing only seven hitters in two innings.
The win improves the Hurricanes’ record to 23-6 on the season and evens the two-game series at one game each. The Yellow Jackets fall to 17-12 on the season. Danny Gil improved to 4-0 on the season, pitching 2.2 innings and allowing only one run and one hit. John Goodman took the loss for Georgia Tech.
Trailing 6-1, Brian Barton doubled home UM’s second run of the game in the sixth inning, scoring Jon Jay who had drawn a walk. Ryan Braun followed with his fifth home run of the season, a two-run shot down the right field line. The home run came on Owings 101st pitch and pulled the Hurricanes within two runs at 6-4.
Owings pitched 5.2 innings, holding UM to three hits and four runs while striking out seven. UM didn’t get its first hit off Owings until Erick San Pedro’s fifth-inning double.
Miami took its first lead of the game with a five-run seventh inning that was highlight by Barton’s go-ahead double down the right field line that scored two runs. The Hurricanes pounded out five hits in the inning.
Georgia Tech extended the lead to 6-1 in the bottom half of the fifth inning with a sacrifice fly from Clifton Remole, a RBI double by shortstop Tyler Greene and a RBI single by Whit Robbins that took a nasty hop on Jim Burt at first base.
Owings singled home Eric Patterson in the first inning to give Georgia Tech a 1-0 lead. Patterson then advance to second base on a balked called on Carrillo after he had apparently picked Patterson off in a run-down between first and second base.
The Ramblin Wreck extended their lead in the third inning to 3-0 on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Steven Blackwood and a RBI double from Mike Nickeas.
Miami mounted a two-out rally in the fourth inning without the help of a base hit. Adam Ricks and Jim Burt drew walks before Brian Barton reached on an error by the Yellow Jackets’ shortstop Greene, allowing Ricks to score and make it 3-1.
Georgia Tech and Miami conclude their three-game series on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Russ Chandler Stadium in Atlanta.
