Feb. 20, 2015
| GT Game Notes • 2015 Media Guide • Season Statistics |
| GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS (3-1) at CARAVELLE RESORT’S BASEBAL AT THE BEACH Feb. 21-22, 2015 • Conway, S.C. • Springs Brooks Stadium (2,500) |
| TV: None • Radio: WREK 91.1 FM Atlanta • Listen Live |
>> Georgia Tech heads to South Carolina this weekend for the 16th Annual Caravelle Resort’s Baseball at the Beach, hosted by Coastal Carolina University. Forecasted inclement weather forced a change to the initial schedule, and now the Yellow Jackets will play twice on Saturday (vs. FIU and Coastal) and once on Sunday (vs. Albany).
>> This is the third time Georgia Tech has played in the Baseball at the Beach. The Jackets went 2-1 in 2002 and 2-0 in 2006 — each of those seasons culminated at the College World Series.
>> The Yellow Jackets have never played FIU nor Albany, and Tech is 15-6 all-time versus Coastal Carolina.
>> Reigning ACC Player of the Week, rookie Kel Johnson, continued the hot start to his collegiate career Tuesday night at Georgia Southern with a seventh-inning grand slam that gave Tech the lead for good en route to a 7-4 win.
>> Johnson is the first Tech freshman to hit a grand slam since Matt Simonds versus Maryland in 2009. Johnson leads the ACC in homers (3), hits (9), RBI (9) and total bases (21). He is one homer shy of matching A.J. Murray and former Jacket Mott Hyde, who each led the squad with four homers last year.
>> Sophomore righty Zac Ryan has factored in two of Tech’s first three wins, recording a save last weekend versus Fordham and a win in relief Tuesday at Georgia Southern. He’s pitched 5.1 innings of shutout relief with six strikeouts.
>> Tech starts three left-handed pitchers for the second straight weekend. It is the first all-southpaw rotation under Hall. The trio — Jonathan King, Ben Parr and Devin Stanton — have each earned Academic All-ACC honors in their careers.
>> Tech returns eight of nine starting position players and two starting pitchers from a team that won 37 games and claimed the program’s ninth ACC championship in 2014. The Jackets’ nine titles tie Clemson for the most in conference history.
>> Last season, the Jackets advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 30th time in program history and for the 28th time in the past 30 seasons. Only Florida State and Miami have made more NCAAs over the last 30 years than Tech’s 28.
>> 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).
>> Sophomore C Arden Pabst has thrown out the first four stolen-base attempts against him this season. He was second in the ACC last season in runners caught stealing (16) and caught-stealing percentage (.410).
>> 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 1,102 wins.
