Tech Takes Trio of Triumphs Over FSU
Friday night lights shone down on Mac Nease Baseball Park at Russ Chandler Stadium for the second game of a three-game set between Georgia Tech and Florida State. The Jackets had taken a Game One nail- biter, 4-3, one night earlier. That game between these two powers ended rather dramatically, with the Yellow Jackets executing a rare 1-3-2 double play to end the game on a tag play at home plate.
Game Two saw Tech's Porter Buursema facing Seminole lefty Trey Beard. The Jackets took this game by an 8-3 score, but the contest was closer than the score suggested.
In fact, this game may have demonstrated in a subtle way that Georgia Tech is a more complete team than many initially thought.
Everyone knows Tech is among the best- if not the best- offense in NCAA D1. Pick any metric you want, and you'll find Georgia Tech at or near the top.
My favorite offensive stat for baseball is simple -" runs scored". Because that's the goal , right? All other stats are in service to that particular measure. Coming into this series, Tech led D1 with 365 total runs scored in 32 games played. That's a per game average of over 11 runs.
Now add in the past three games total of 28 ( 9.3 rpg)- scored against an elite opponent (FSU came to town ranked #5 nationally). Impressive.
And though the Jackets won by wider margins as the series played put, it was the Yellow Jacket pitching that got the most notice– because everyone has known that the hitting has been sublime.
Commenting on his Saturday night starter, Porter Buursema, Tech coach James Ramsey said his task as head coach had become one of convincing Porter of his own talent.
" You throw 99, man...you've got to be walking around like you're the baddest dude around" he recalled telling Buursema.
Ramsey's approach is paying off . Buursema has grown into the starter's role and he is slowly stretching his stamina to go deeper into games.
On Saturday, he went four inmings, holding the Seminoles to just one run on three hits. He threw 66 pitches and said he felt good throughout his stint.
Asked about the 0-5 mark that the Seminoles generated when hitting with runners in scoring position ( RISP), Buursema demurred, saying that his team has " Dogs in the bullpen"....
True enough. But Tech also shone brightly in the field, which is really nothing new. It's just unheralded. But the stats tell the story.
Ramsey's Yellow Jackets are top five in pitching and in fielding in the ACC. Which means that the potent offense is that much more effective. Following Friday night's 8- 3 win, Ramsey asserted that his lineup for Saturday's Game Three would not change. He stressed that each player on his team is instructed to keep his foot on the gas, and that holds for the head man as well.
It worked out for Tech in the series finale. After a tight first few innings, the Jackets broke it open with a five run 5th inning, followed by 10 runs an inning later. That result was a 17-3 run-rule win, an emphatic end to a three game set between two top teams.
For Tech, this display served notice that their team is talented and deep in all areas. Ramsey's team looks to have all needed ingredients to get to Omaha.
Of course, there's a lot of baseball left to be played, and nothing can be taken for granted. That said, the Jackets are looking stout sitting atop the ACC in mid April. Next up, Georgia Southern before Tech visits UNC next weekend.
Patrick Conarro
RamblinSports