GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS (13-7) at MERCER BEARS (11-10)
Tuesday, March 19 • Macon, Ga. (OrthoGeorgia Park at Claude Smith Field – 1,500)
Tuesday
TV: ESPN+ | Watch Live
Play-by-Play: Frank Malloy
Analyst: TBD
Radio: WREK 91.1 FM | Listen Online | GT Gameday App | TuneIn
Play-by-Play: Wiley Ballard
GAMEDAY CENTRAL
Game Notes | 2019 GT Baseball Info Guide
TOP STORYLINES
• After a 3-1 homestand, Georgia Tech baseball heads out on the road for four games, beginning at in-state foe Mercer on Tuesday, March 19.
• The Yellow Jackets are coming off winning its first ACC series by taking two of three against Virginia, including splitting two one-run ballgames.
• Tech continues to be the #CardiacJackets, putting on thriller after thriller again last week.
• The Jackets enjoyed a 7-6 midweek win over Ga. Southern and a 6-5 win over UVA on Sunday, but also suffered a 9-8 loss to Virginia on Friday as well.
• Mercer is coming in, having won just two of its last six and looking to get back on track before starting Southern Conference action this weekend.
• Tech is 6-4 in its last 10 against the Bears, owning an overall series advantage of 112-56 all-time. The last time GT faltered on the road at Mercer was 2013.
• The offensive story for Georgia Tech continues to be catcher Kyle McCann and Michael Guldberg.
• Having won one ACC weekly honor and two nationally, McCann keeps putting up huge numbers. He hit .600 last week with six hits, three doubles and two home runs, also drawing nine walks.
• His 36 career homers ties five Jackets for 16th all-time, including Georgia Tech legend Mark Teixeira.
• Guldberg has hit gaudy numbers at the plate, being one of the best hitters in the country. Last week, he had 13 hits on .722 hitting, including the go-ahead, two-RBI double against Ga. Southern.
• He leads the ACC in batting average (.516) and hits (32).
• Junior RHP Amos Willingham gets the nod for Tuesday after allowing just two runs in five innings (57 pitches) vs. GS. He currently sports a 3.92 ERA and a 2-0 record.
• First baseman and RHP Tristin English will look to carry forward his momentum from being a Cape Cod All-Star last summer. The redshirt-junior is a two-time 2019 preseason all-American entering this weekend, as he’s expected to be one of the country’s top two-way players.
• Battling some nagging ailements over the last week and a half, English has been gutting out strong performances for Tech.
• Last week, English hit .357 for five hits, three doubles and four RBI, while also coming into the ninth inning to close the door on a pesky Virginia squad, getting the save and ensuring Tech walked away with the ACC series win.
• After catching fire at the plate the first week of March (six hits, six runs and a double), outfielder Chase Murray has missed the last five games due to an injury. He is officially listed as day-to-day.
• In his stead, Colin Hall has shifted to left field and Baron Radcliff has played right field to much success. Hall finished last week with four hits and three RBI while Radcliff hit .308 for four hits, two doubles and three RBI.
• Preseason expectations have been at an all-time high as the Yellow Jackets have built themselves into one of the oldest teams in the country, returning seven of nine starters and losing zero starting pitchers from a season ago.
• However, the Jackets will have to contend with the loss of Joey Bart and Wade Bailey to the MLB Draft, but Kyle McCann and Luke Waddell have looked primed and ready to take over at catcher and second base, respectively.
• Waddell missed four-straight games with a knee injury but returned for the Northwestern series. He is currently batting .277 overall with 18 hits, four doubles and a home run.
