FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 21, 2000

LEWIS' NINTH-INNING SINGLE LEADS NO. 14 TECH PAST EASTERN KENTUCKY, 3-2

ATLANTA - Sophomore second baseman Richard Lewis slapped a RBI single through the middle with two out in the ninth on Tuesday night, as No. 14 Georgia Tech defeated Eastern Kentucky, 3-2, at Russ Chandler Stadium.

        Lewis, the Jackets' leading hitter at .471, went 3-5 in the game while driving in a pair, as Georgia Tech (16-6) won its seventh straight.

        Junior reliever Andy Mitchell (3-0) got the win on the mound for the Jackets, having pitched a scoreless ninth to preserve a 2-2 tie.

        Tech got on the board first courtesy of a second inning RBI ground out by Wes Rynders.  The Colonels (8-11) struck back with two in the top of the third on a two-run single by Adam Basil to take a 2-1 lead.  An RBI double by Lewis, in the bottom of the fourth, knotted the score at 2-2.

        The hurlers for each team then took control, as EKU starter Nic Lively pitched seven innings allowing just two runs and seven hits. Tech reliever Brad Busbin pitched 4-2/3 shutout innings in relief of Phillip Perry. Perry was responsible for the two Colonels runs during his 3-2/3 innings on the hill, as the freshman made his first career start.

        After Mike Martini pitched a scoreless eighth for Eastern Kentucky, Jeff Sharp (0-1) came on in the ninth, and gave up the game-winning single to Lewis while taking the loss.

        The two teams wrap up their mid-week two-game set on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at Russ Chandler Stadium.