Feb. 23, 2006
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ATLANTA–Third-ranked Georgia Tech (8-0) travels to Myrtle Beach, S.C., for the Baseball Bash at the Beach, a round robin event that includes Tennessee (6-1), Virginia Commonwealth and host Coastal Carolina.
The Yellow Jackets face sixth-rankedTennessee on Friday at 3:30 p.m. Tech plays VCU (3-2) on Saturday at 12 noon, and meets Coastal Carolina (2-5) on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
The Yellow Jackets are off to a 8-0 start in 2006, and most recently swept a doubleheader from East Tennessee State on Tuesday in Atlanta.
After allowing 25 runs in the its first three games, the Georgia Tech pitching staff has allowed just eight runs in the last five games (1.40 ERA; 45 IP, 7 ER). The weekend starting rotation of Blake Wood, Lee Hyde and Tim Ladd did not allow a run in 18 innings against Kennesaw State.
Tech’s offense has been led by 1B Whit Robbins (.394-2-17), 3B Wes Hodges (.419-1-6) and RF Jeff Kindel (.364-1-8).
Pitching Matchups (GT vs. opp)
Fri. vs. Tennessee: RHP Blake Wood (2-0, 3.27) vs. LHP James Adkins (3-0, 0.50)
Sat. vs. VCU: LHP Lee Hyde (1-0, 1.86) vs. RHP John Leonard (0-0, 1.12)
Sun. vs. Coastal Carolina: LHP Tim Ladd (1-0, 3.52) vs. TBA
GAME COVERAGE: Live statistics on the internet will be available at at the Official Tournament Website.
Series Record vs. “Bash” Opponents
Georgia Tech vs. Tennessee
Georgia Tech leads Tennessee, 44-33, in a series that dates to 1902. The two teams have never met on a neutral field, as Tech leads 28-18 in Atlanta and 16-15 in Knoxville.
Friday’s game will be a rematch of the 2005 NCAA Atlanta Super Regional, where Tennessee won two games against Georgia Tech, 3-2 and 13-3, to advance to the College World Series.
The Jackets and Vols have played just three times since 1982, all coming in NCAA Regional play. Tennessee won 6-4 in the 1995 NCAA Mideast Regional in Knoxville before winning the two Super Regional games last year.
Georgia Tech vs. Virginia Commonwealth
Georgia Tech leads Virginia Commonwealth, 3-0, in a series that dates to 1980. The Yellow Jackets and Rams last met during the 2002 Bash at the Beach, an 8-2 Tech win.
Georgia Tech defeated VCU, 9-6, in the first round of the 1988 NCAA Atlantic Regional in Coral Gables, Fla. The Yellow Jackets won 7-3 in a 1980 regular season game played in Atlanta.
Georgia Tech vs. Coastal Carolina
Georgia Tech leads Coastal Carolina, 12-3, in a series that dates to 1978. The Yellow Jackets and Chanticleers have met on four previous occasions since 2000.
The two teams played last year during the regular season, with Coastal Carolina winning 7-6 in Atlanta.
Tech and Coastal met twice during the 2002 season. The Jackets won 2-1 in the Bash at the Beach, and then won 6-0 in the first round of the NCAA Atlanta Regional. Coastal Carolina claimed a 5-3 decision in the first round of the NCAA Athens Regional in 2001.
Pitching Staff Shines in Last Five Games
After allowing 25 runs in its first three games, Georgia Tech’s pitching staff excelled in the last five games against Kennesaw State and East Tennessee State. The Yellow Jackets have allowed just eight runs in that span, one of which was unearned (1.40 ERA, 45 IP, 7 ER).
Tech’s starting rotation of Blake Wood (6 IP, 0 R), Lee Hyde (7 IP, 0 R) and Tim Ladd (5 IP, 0 R) combined to work 18 innings and did not allow a run last weekend against Kennesaw State.
Overall, Tech’s starting pitchers have worked 30 innings and allowed just four runs (1.20 ERA) in the last five games. The bullpen allowed three earned runs in 15 innings of work (1.80 ERA).
Swinging the Big Sticks
The Yellow Jackets led the ACC with a .319 team batting average during the 2004 season and a .333 team average in 2005. Tech has hit over .300 as a team in 19 of the last 21 years, and has averaged at least seven runs per game every year since 1981. Tech has led the ACC in batting in six years (1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005) under Danny Hall.
The Jackets are batting .307 in their first eight games of 2006. Tech has scored 66 runs in eight games (8.3 runs per game).
“5” – The Magic Number
Since the arrival of pitching coach Bobby Moranda prior to the 2002 season, the Yellow Jackets are 141-14 (.910) when allowing five runs or less. The Yellow Jackets are 5-0 when allowing five runs or less in 2006.
Tech went 38-2 in 2002, 34-2 in 2003, 33-3 in 2004 and 31-7 in 2005 when allowing five runs or less. When allowing six or more runs, the Yellow Jackets are 47-59 since 2002.
