April 6, 2017

Tech Baseball Makes First-Ever Visit to Notre Dame

April 6, 2017

GT Game Notes | ND Game Notes | 2017 GT Baseball Information Guide

THE FLATS – Georgia Tech (16-11, 4-8 ACC) will make its first trip north to Notre Dame (10-17, 4-8 ACC) for another ACC cross-divisional matchup this weekend in South Bend, Indiana. The two teams will play Friday night at 6 p.m. ET, Saturday at 4 p.m. ET, and then on Sunday at 12 p.m. ET.

FOLLOW THE ACTION LIVE

• All three ACC games over the weekend will be video streamed live on the ACC Network Extra, ESPN3 and the WatchESPN App.

• Live stats can be found at UND.com. A link to live stats can also be found on the baseball schedule page at RamblinWreck.com or at the top of this page.

• Wiley Ballard will also broadcast the game live over the radio air waves on WREK 91.1 FM

LEADING OFF

• Georgia Tech will be playing its first-ever game at Notre Dame and in South Bend, Indiana this weekend in the ACC series. In fact, the Jackets have never played a collegiate baseball game in the state of Indiana in the program’s long history.

• This weekend’s ACC matchup between the Yellow Jackets and the Fighting Irish is only the second conference series between the two teams since Notre Dame joined the ACC on July 1, 2013. Tech 2-of-3 games from the Irish back in 2015 at Russ Chandler Stadium in Atlanta, Ga.

• This weekend’s cross-divisional series against Notre Dame is the third straight ACC Atlantic Division opponent for the Yellow Jackets. Tech played at Wake Forest (Mar. 24-26) and hosted No. 5 Clemson (Mar. 31-Apr. 2) the last two weekends of ACC play.

• Freshman shortstop Austin Wilhite ranks fourth in the ACC and leads the Jackets with a batting average of .396 overall on the season. In ACC play only, junior third baseman Trevor Craport ranks fourth in the conference with his average of .396 in 12 ACC games thus far this year. As a team, the Yellow Jackets rank fourth in the ACC with a team batting average of .305 on the year.

• When the Jackets hold their opponents to five runs or less Tech is undefeated. Georgia Tech is a perfect 12-0 overall when holding its opponents to five runs or less for the contest on the year.

• The duo of Joey Bart and Wade Bailey – the No. 2 and No. 3 hitters in the Tech lineup – combine to rank in the top-40 nationally in a six different offensive categories. Bart ranks sixth in the nation in home runs (11), 12th in total bases (81) and 23rd in slugging percentage (.704). Bailey sits fourth nationally in runs scored (38), 10th in doubles (14) and 27th in hits per game (1.59).

• As a team offensively, the Jackets rank in the top-30 nationally in seven different categories – first in doubles per game (2.67), third in home runs per game (1.70), fourth in slugging percentage (.521), fifth in home runs (46), fifth in doubles (72), 23rd in scoring (7.6 runs per game) and 28th in batting average (.305).

• Both pitching staffs this weekend are averaging 8.0 or more strikeouts per 9.0 innings on the season. Tech’s arms are averaging 8.2 K’s per 9.0 innings, while the Irish staff is averaging 8.0 punch outs per 9.0 innings.

• Defense has played a key for Tech this season, as the Yellow Jackets are 9-1 on the year when not committing an error for the game. Tech is just 7-10 on the season when making one or more errors for the game.

• A total of 11 different players have hit a home run this season for the Yellow Jackets led by Joey Bart who has recorded a team-high 11 home runs on the season. In contrast, the Fighting Irish have hit only 11 home runs overall on the season as a team.

JACKETS’ FIRST-EVER VISIT TO SOUTH BEND

• The Georgia Tech baseball team will be making their first-ever visit to South Bend, Indiana and Frank Eck Stadium.

• In fact, the Yellow Jackets have never played a collegiate baseball game in the state of Indiana in the program’s history since 1895.

NEW RIVALRY FORMING?

• The Yellow Jackets are 8-5 overall versus the Irish and 2-1 against Notre Dame in ACC play.

• The two teams last met in 2015, as Tech took two-of-three games over the Irish in ACC play at The Flats.

• Tech and Notre Dame have only played a total of five times since 1996 with the Jackets holding a 4-1 record overall in those five meetings.

HOMECOMING FOR RYAN

• Tech senior Zac Ryan will be returning “home” this weekend when the Yellow Jackets take on Notre Dame in ACC cross-divisional play.

• From Valparaiso, Indiana and Andrean High School, Ryan’s hometown is just over an hour away from Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.

TECH AGAINST THE ATLANTIC DIVISION

• The Yellow Jackets are playing their third straight ACC series against an Atlantic Division foe this weekend in the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

• Tech is 2-4 thus far versus teams in the Atlantic Division having gone 1-2 at Wake Forest (Mar. 24-26) and 1-2 at home versus No. 5 Clemson (Mar. 31-Apr. 2).

• The Jackets continue cross-divisional play next week as well, as they host Louisville on The Flats on Apr. 13-15 at Russ Chandler Stadium.

ACCOLADES CONTINUE TO ROLL IN FOR BART

• The accolades continue to roll in for Tech sophomore Joey Bart, as he was named to the Midseason Perfect Game/Rawlings College Baseball All-American First Team at catcher on April 6. (Click Here to see the Midseason Honors)

THE NATIONAL TOP-25 GAUNTLET

• Tech has had a very challenging go of it as of late, as the Yellow Jackets have played a total of four nationally top-12 ranked opponents over the last month in No. 12 Oklahoma, No. 9 North Carolina, No. 16 Auburn/No. 7 Auburn and No. 5 Clemson (rankings at the time of the games).

• In fact, nine of the Jackets’ last 13 games have come against top-12 or higher nationally ranked opponents – No. 12 Oklahoma, three versus then No. 9 North Carolina, one at home against No. 16 Auburn, three versus No. 5 Clemson and then at No. 7 Auburn on Tuesday.

• Georgia Tech also played three games against Wake Forest who leapt into the top-25 in a number of the national polls this week.

LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH BIG INNINGS

• This season the Jackets have had a love/hate relationship with big innings.

• Tech’s record is 10-3 overall when it has at least one big inning (four runs or more) in the game.

• On the flip side, the Jackets are just 2-6 overall on the year when giving up a big inning (four runs or more) in the game.

ON DECK

• Tech will return to the state of Georgia to face off with the UGA Bulldogs in a midweek clash in Athens, Ga. on Tuesday night, April 11, at 7 pm ET.

For the latest information on the Georgia Tech baseball team, follow us on Twitter (@GTBaseball), Facebook, Instagram (@gt_baseball ) or visit us at www.ramblinwreck.com.