Feb. 24, 2015
| GT Game Notes • 2015 Media Guide • Season Statistics |
| GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS (5-2) at AUBURN (6-2) // vs. GEORGIA STATE (4-4_ Feb. 24 (5 p.m. ET) // Feb. 25 (4 p.m. ET) • Auburn, Ala. // Atlanta, Ga. • Plainsman Park // Russ Chandler Stadium |
| TV: Tuesday SEC Network Plus • Radio: WREK 91.1 FM Atlanta • Listen Live |
>> Georgia Tech begins a busy week Tuesday at Auburn and welcomes Georgia State Wednesday, before hosting Indiana State for a three-game series at Russ Chandler Stadium this weekend. Tuesday’s game at Auburn begins at 5 p.m. ET on SEC Network Plus with Wednesday’s game versus the Panthers at 4 p.m.
>> Tech and Auburn are renewing a series that dates back to 1897, but one that has been dormant since 2005. Auburn is Tech’s second-most frequently-played opponent as the teams have met 228 times with the Tigers holding a narrow 118-105-5 lead. The Yellow Jackets have won four straight in the series from Georgia State and lead it 60-10, including a 35-4 advantage in games played at Russ Chandler Stadium.
>> Tech has come from behind in all five win this season, including a pair of ninth-inning rallies to beat No. 23 FIU and Albany this past weekend in Myrtle Beach. Tech is out-scoring opponents 13-4 in the first inning and 11-0 in 9th — 37 percent of Tech’s 65 runs have come in either the first or ninth innings.
>> Freshman Kel Johnson has at least one hit in each of his first seven games as a collegian, while senior Thomas Smith brings a five-game hitting streak into the week. Johnson and Smith, along with A.J. Murray and Daniel Spingola have reached safely in all seven games. Murray has reached in 19 of his last 20 games dating back to last season.
>> Johnson (13) and Murray (11) are first and second in the ACC in RBI. Johnson also leads the ACC in home runs (four — tied for second in the NCAA), total bases (29) and slugging (.909). His first career grand slam was a seventh-inning blast at Georgia Southern last Tuesday that gave Tech the lead for good en route to a 7-4 win.
>> Tech enters the week leading the ACC in nearly all offensive categories, including batting average (.324), doubles (20), home runs (8), slugging (.508), on-base percentage (.423) and runs (65 — ninth in NCAA).
>> Sophomore righty Ben Schniederjans makes his second consecutive mid-week start Tuesday at Auburn. He was solid in his first career start last Tuesday at Georgia Southern, but did not factor in the decision in the Jackets’ 7-4 victory.
>> Sophomore C Arden Pabst has thrown out 75 percent of stolen-base attempts (six of eight) against him this season. He was second in the ACC last season in runners caught stealing (16) and caught-stealing percentage (.410). Pabst clubbed a walk-off, three-run home run as Tech rallied to beat Albany on Sunday, 9-8.
>> The Yellow Jackets were one of the nation’s best defensive teams last season, leading the NCAA in outfield assists (23) and double plays (77, school record), while also setting a school record for best fielding percentage (.974).
>> Danny Hall is in his 22nd season as Tech’s head coach (28th overall), and his last four seasons on the Flats have resulted in two ACC tournament titles (2012, 2014) and an ACC regular-season crown (2011). Hall is a two-time ACC Coach of the Year and is among the 15 winningest active coaches in college baseball with 1,104 wins.
