Feb. 14, 2006
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ATLANTA–Third-ranked Georgia Tech (2-0) host Georgia State (0-0) in the Yellow Jackets’ home opener on Wednesday at Russ Chandler Stadium. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
Last weekend, the Yellow Jackets swept a two-game series at Georgia Southern to open the season. Tech scored 28 runs in the two games and hit .345 as a team after leading the ACC and ranking second nationally with a .333 batting average in 2005.
Tech’s offense was led by RF Jeff Kindel (.556-1-5), 1B Whit Robbins (.455-1-6-), 3B Wes Hodges (.400-1-4), LF Steven Blackwood (.375-0-4) and C/DH Matt Wieters (.364-0-3).
Pitching Matchup
Georgia Tech: Ryan Turner (LHP) – 7-3, 3.31 ERA in 2005
Georgia State: Romas Hicks (RHP) – 5-7, 5.38 ERA in 2005
GAME COVERAGE: Live statistics on the internet will be available at www.ramblinwreck.com.
Georgia Tech vs. Georgia State
Georgia Tech leads Georgia State, 46-6, in a series that dates to 1971. The Yellow Jackets own a 28-2 record against the Panthers on their home field.
Last year, Georgia Tech and Georgia State split a pair of meetings with each team winning on the opponent’s home field. The Panthers upset the Jackets, 5-2, in the season opener for both teams, while Tech claimed an 11-6 decision two weeks later.
Georgia Tech is 23-2 against Georgia State in 12 years under head coach Danny Hall.
Versus the State of Georgia
Georgia Tech is 2-0 against teams from the state of Georgia in 2006, posting a 2-0 record vs. Georgia Southern. Since 1999, Georgia Tech owns a 65-17 (.793) record against its in-state foes. The Yellow Jackets are 108-34 (.761) against teams from Georgia in 13 years under head coach Danny Hall.
Hodges, Wieters, Wood, Kindel Named to Preseason All-America Teams
Junior third baseman Wes Hodges was named to various preseason All-America teams for the 2006 season. Hodges was a first-team selection by Baseball America, Collegeiate Baseball, and RosenblattReport.com, and a second-team pick by the NCBWA.
Sophomore catcher-pitcher Matt Wieters was a second-team preseason All-America selection by Baseball America and RosenblattReport.com and a third-team pick by Collegiate Baseball and the NCBWA.
Junior pitcher Blake Wood was a third-team preseason All-America by Collegiate Baseball and senior outfielder Jeff Kindel was a third-team selection by RosenblattReport.com.
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 hit .345 in their season opening series at Georgia Southern last weekend.
