April 22, 2005
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.–Fourth-ranked Georgia Tech (30-7, 16-2 ACC) visits Virginia (26-13, 6-10 ACC) for a three game Atlantic Coast Conference series this weekend in Charlottesville. Gametimes are 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
The Yellow Jackets begin a stretch of eight straight games away from Russ Chandler Stadium, and Tech does not return to its home park until May 6. Following this weekend, the Jackets face Georgia at Turner Field on Tuesday, travel to Athens on Wednesday, and visit Clemson for a three-game ACC series next weekend.
Tech is off to a fast start in conference play with sweeps of Duke, Wake Forest, NC State and Florida State, and series wins over Miami and Maryland. Tech had an ACC-record 25 straight regular season conference win streak snapped on Mar. 25 at Miami, but the Yellow Jackets have won 32 of their last 34 ACC games and have won 13 consecutive ACC weekend series.
Yellow Jacket head coach Danny Hall won his 505th (currently 514-218 in 12 years) game at Georgia Tech on Mar. 27 in Miami, eclipsing the previous school record of 504 wins held by current Miami head coach Jim Morris (504-244-1 record at Georgia Tech from 1982-1993).
For the year, Tech leads the ACC with a .344 team batting average, a .448 on base percentage and an average of 10.8 runs per game. The Yellow Jackets have scored at least nine runs in 28 of 37 games, reaching double figure scoring in 20 games.
The Tech lineup features catchers Andy Hawranick (.316AVG/.389OBP/.505SLG, 4HR, 24RBI) and Matt Wieters (.421/.552/.661, 6, 42), first baseman Whit Robbins (.257/.425/.386, 1, 26), second basemen Mike Trapani (.286/.420/.363, 1, 11) and Michael Fisher (.319/.385/.553, 2, 16), shortstop Tyler Greene (.340/.421/.564, 7, 45), third baseman Wes Hodges (.417/.494/.682, 8, 33), left fielder Steven Blackwood (.374/.442/.568, 5, 52), center fielder Danny Payne (.333/.455/.465, 3, 28), and right fielders Jeremy Slayden (.370/.472/.623, 10, 46) and Jeff Kindel (.363/.493/.584, 3, 35).
PITCHING MATCHUP (Georgia Tech vs. Georgia):Friday: LHP Lee Hyde (5-1, 3.98) vs. RHP Matt Avery (4-3, 4.09)Saturday: RHP Jason Neighborgall (5-2, 5.55) vs. LHP Mike Ballard (5-3, 3.64)Sunday: RHP Blake Wood (7-0, 3.54) vs. RHP Jeff Kamrath (6-3, 2.45)
GAME COVERAGE: Live statistics on the internet at www.ramblinwreck.com. Radio coverage on WREK (91.1 FM in Atlanta) and on the internet at www.wrek.org.
GEORGIA TECH VS. VIRGINIA
Georgia Tech leads Virginia, 56-30-1, in a series that dates to 1924. The Yellow Jackets hold a 20-16 advantage in games played in Charlottesville, including winning five of the last six on the Cavaliers’ home field.
Last year in Atlanta, the Cavaliers swept a three-game series with wins by scores of 4-3, 2-1 and 8-5. Virginia’s series win was its first ever in Atlanta.
Virginia’s series win in 2004 was Georgia Tech’s last ACC series loss. Since that series, the Yellow Jackets have won 13 straight ACC weekend series.
Two years ago in Charlottesville, the Yellow Jackets swept the three-game series by scores of 7-0, 5-2, and 1-0.
Tech is 23-11 against Virginia under head coach Danny Hall.
TECH SETS ACC RECORD WITH 25 STRAIGHT CONFERENCE WINS
The Yellow Jackets won 16 straight ACC games to finish the 2004 season, a new school record, after starting the year 2-5 in conference play. Tech opened the 2005 season with nine straight league wins to extend its win streak in conference play to an ACC-record 25 games.
The streak was snapped on Mar. 25 at Miami. Nevertheless, Tech has won 32 of its last 34 ACC games.
STREAKING IN THE ACC
Georgia Tech has enjoyed unprecedented success within the Atlantic Coast Conference over the last two seasons, winning the ACC regular season title in 2004 with an 18-5 league record, and racing out to first place in the ACC standings in 2005 with a 16-2 mark.
Tech had a conference-record 25-game ACC win streak snapped on Mar. 25 at Miami, but the Yellow Jackets have won 32 of their last 34 ACC games.
The Yellow Jackets have won 13 straight ACC series overall, and have won 19 of their last 20 ACC home games. Tech has won seven straight ACC series on the road and is 18-2 in its last 20 ACC road games.
Georgia Tech has streaked out to a 9-0 record in ACC play to start the 2005 season, sweeping series against Duke, Wake Forest and NC State. Tech’s 9-0 record is the second best conference start since joining the ACC in 1980.
