May 11, 2005
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ATLANTA–Fifth-ranked Georgia Tech (34-14, 18-6 ACC) hosts Virginia Tech (20-23, 5-15) for a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series this weekend at Russ Chandler Stadium. The series begins on Friday at 7 p.m. in a game that will be televised by Fox Sports Net South, and continues on Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
PITCHING MATCHUP (Georgia Tech vs. Virginia Tech):Friday: LHP Lee Hyde (6-2, 4.94) vs. RHP Greg Fryman (3-1, 6.80)Saturday: RHP Blake Wood (8-1, 3.20) vs. LHP Ryan Kennedy (5-6, 3.34)Sunday: LHP Ryan Turner (5-1, 3.56) vs. RHP Jake Chaney (5-3, 5.25)
The Yellow Jackets wrap up a seven-game homestand this weekend before finishing the regular season with a three-game set at North Carolina, May 19-21.
Tech stands in first place in the league standings, ahead of Miami (17-6-1), North Carolina (15-6-1), Florida State (15-9), Clemson (15-9) and NC State (13-11). The Yellow Jackets have won 13 of their last 14 ACC weekend series. The Yellow Jackets’ “Magic Number” to clinch the league’s regular season race is six over Miami, five over North Carolina and three over Florida State and Clemson. All of these teams have six conference games remaining in the regular season.
Yellow Jacket head coach Danny Hall won his 505th (currently 518-225 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 in batting .336 and runs scored ( 9.6 per game). The Yellow Jackets have scored at least nine runs in 30 of 48 games, reaching double figure scoring in 22 games.
The Tech lineup features catchers Andy Hawranick (.291AVG/.361OBP/.449SLG, 4HR, 27RBI) and Matt Wieters (.388/.490/.600, 7, 52), first baseman Whit Robbins (.263/.428/.386, 1, 28), second basemen Mike Trapani (.320/.444/.432, 2, 15) and Michael Fisher (.306/.370/.531, 2, 16), shortstop Tyler Greene (.343/.433/.552, 9, 50), third baseman Wes Hodges (.409/.485/.628, 9, 43), left fielder Steven Blackwood (.361/.438/.508, 5, 57), center fielder Danny Payne (.284/.416/.396, 3, 32), and right fielder Jeff Kindel (.379/.500/.575, 3, 45).
GAME COVERAGE: Live statistics on the internet at www.ramblinwreck.com. Friday’s game will be televised by Fox Sports Net South. Radio coverage on WREK (91.1 FM) on Friday and Saturday, and on 790 The Zone (790 AM) on Sunday.
Georgia Tech vs.Virginia Tech
Georgia Tech leads Virginia Tech, 4-2, in a series that dates to 1980. All six games in the series have been played in Atlanta. The Yellow Jackets have won four striaght games against the Hokies.
The Yellow Jackets and Hokies last met during the 1997 season when Georgia Tech swept a three-game weekend series. The two schools also met in 1980, 1981 and 1983.
Georgia Tech is 3-0 versus Virginia Tech under head coach Danny Hall.
LEADING OFF … NEWS & NOTES ON THE YELLOW JACKETS
THE OFFENSE: The Yellow Jackets led the ACC with a .319 team batting average during the 2004 season. 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 five years (1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2004) under Danny Hall. Tech leads the ACC with a .336 average this year.
YOUTH IN THE PITCHING STAFF: Georgia Tech has only three upperclassmen pitchers on the staff – senior Jordan Crews and juniors Jason Neighborgall and Ryan Self. Sophomores Lee Hyde and Blake Wood are the only pitcher on the Tech staff with at least 100 career innings pitched, and Hyde is lone pitcher with over 10 career wins.
BALANCE OF POWER: Georgia Tech’s offensive success in 2005 is due in large part to contributions throughout the entire lineup. The Yellow Jackets have six players with at least 40 RBI, while seven regulars are hitting .320 or better and ten different players have hit two or more home runs.
RECORD SETTING OFFENSE
Georgia Tech is batting an ACC-best .336 as a team and scoring 9.6 runs per game. Tech, which has been known for prolific offenses through the years, has led the ACC in batting in five of 11 years under head coach Danny Hall. The 2001 team set a school record with a .347 batting average, while the 1984 team scored a record 10.3 runs per game.
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 ranks first in the ACC standings in 2005 with a 18-6 mark.
Tech had a conference-record 25-game ACC win streak snapped on Mar. 25 at Miami, but the Yellow Jackets have won 34 of their last 40 ACC games.
The Yellow Jackets had a streak of 13 straight ACC series wins snapped Apr. 22-24 at Virginia, but Tech has won 14 of its last 15 ACC weekend series. Tech has won 19 of is last 20 ACC home games and 20 of its last 26 ACC road games.
