ACC Champion Georgia Tech Makes 15th NCAA Apperance In Last 16Years TournamentBracket [pdf] Tournament Schedule/Scoreboard www.NCAAbaseball.com
ATLANTA (May 22) — The No. 1-ranked Georgia Tech baseball team is the top seed at the NCAA Atlanta Regional of the Division I Baseball Championship this weekend at Russ Chandler Stadium on the Tech campus. In addition to the Atlantic Coast Conference winner Georgia Tech (47-14), the four-team field also features 19th-ranked Auburn (40-18), an at-large selection from the Southeastern Conference, 25th-ranked Stetson (46-14), the champions of the Trans America Conference, and Southern Conference winner Georgia Southern (38-21).
Second-seeded Auburn and third-seeded Stetson will open the three-day tournament on Friday at 3 p.m. Tech and fourth-seeded Georgia Southern will play a first round game on Friday at 7 p.m.
The losers of Friday’s games will play in Game Three on Saturday at 11 a.m., while the two winners will meet in Game Four on Saturday at 3 p.m. Game Five will be played on Saturday at 7 p.m., pitting the winner of the Game Three against the loser of Game Four.
The regional championship game will be played on Sunday at 1 p.m., with a second game 45 minutes following if necessary.
The winner of the Atlanta Regional will be paired in a Super Regional against the winner of the Fullerton Regional, featuring Southern California, Cal State Fullerton, Loyola Marymount and Virginia Tech, to be played June 2-4 at a site to be determined. The eight Super Regional winners advance to the College World Series, June 9-17 in Omaha, Neb.
Tickets to the NCAA Atlanta Regional are available through the Georgia Tech ticket office. Call 1-888-TECH-TIX or 404-894-5447 for more information. Reserved seat tournament books are already sold out, although $36 general admission tournament books are still available. Single game tickets are $6 for general admission and $4 for students.
The event features many of college baseball’s stars, led by Tech third baseman Mark Teixeira (Severna Park, Md.), a first-team all-America who is bidding for the ACC triple crown with a .420 average, 16 home runs and 73 RBI, and pitching ace Cory Vance (Vandalia, Ohio), a junior lefthander with a 12-2 record and 3.34 ERA.
The Tigers, playing their final season under retiring head coach Hal Baird, feature outfielder Gabe Gross (.426-12-79), first baseman Todd Faulkner (.413-22-99) and right-handed pitcher Chris Bootcheck (9-1, 3.60). Auburn has a 2-3 record at Russ Chandler Stadium but is making its first appearance on the Tech campus since 1989.
Stetson, coached by Pete Dunn, boasts standout lefthanded pitcher Lenny Dinardo, who sports a 15-1 record and a 1.88 ERA. The Hatters are 1-1 at Russ Chandler Stadium, playing here in 1997 and 1998.
The Eagles, under first-year head coach Rodney Hennon, are led by second baseman Matt Easterday (.444-15-75) and right-hander David Ray (12-2, 3.42). Tech defeated Georgia Southern four times this season, including two wins at Russ Chandler Stadium, where the Eagles have a 6-29 record.
This year’s event marks the third NCAA Regional to be played at Russ Chandler Stadium, following tournaments in 1987, which sent Georgia to the CWS, and 1993, when Wichita State advanced to Omaha.
For Tickets, call 1-888-TECH-TIX
Tournament books (reserved seat) SOLD OUTTournament books (general admission seat) $36Single game (reserved seat) SOLD OUTSingle game (general admission seat) $6Single game (student) $4
Media Credentials & Hotel Information
Media wishing to cover the NCAA Atlanta Regional baseball tournament at Georgia Tech must request credentials in writing on their company letterhead to the attention of Mike Stamus, Director of Communications. Requests may be made by fax (404-894-1248) or by mail to Georgia Tech Sports Information, 150 Bobby Dodd Way, Atlanta, GA, 30332.
The media headquarters hotel is the Marriott Marquis.
Pre-Tournament Practices & Press Conferences
Each team will be hold a practice Thursday at Russ Chandler Stadium, followed by a brief press conference in the interview area beyond the third base dugout. Television crews and still photographers will be permitted to film practices.
Thursday, May 25 Practice TimeGeorgia Tech 10-11:15 a.m.Auburn 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.Stetson 1:00-2:15 p.m.Georgia Southern 2:30-3:45 p.m.
