Tech Comes Roaring Back To Vanquish Virginia
The ACC quarterfinals circa 2026 brought the same result for Georgia Tech as did the same stage one year earlier- but this year's win was the result of a bit more circuitous path. On Thursday, Georgia Tech took down Virginia by a 16- 10 score to advance to Saturday's semifinal round in Charlotte. To get there, Tech again depended on their outstanding offense, clubbing six homers to find their way back from a couple of substantial Cavalier leads. Cav's coach Chris Pollard summarized things well in his post- game remarks, calling Tech's attack.".. unquestionably the best offense in college baseball , and maybe the best in the last 10 years".
He's got a strong point to make, being as how Techs line-up has all nine hitters with averages ell above .300 and they led the ACC in runs scored, the ultimate offensive stat.
Along the way in this game, the Jackets' pitching and defense were good enough as well on Thursday. Not great, but good enough.
Starting pitcher Tate McKee was effective for the first three frames, allowing no runs. He ran into trouble in the fourth frame, and ultimately had to leave early due to a small cut on a pitching hand finger.
Dylan Loy struggled in relief, allowing four earned runs in one inning of work. Ramsey then got one additional inning from Brett Barfield before turning to old reliable Mason Patel staring in the sixth.
Patel was not as shsrp as usual, but he covered three full innings. He walked three and surrendered five hits to yield a total of four earned runs. But during his stint, his teammates staged a big seventh- inning rally.
Facing a four- run deficit heading to their half of the seventh, Tech rallied for two scores to narrow the Virginia lead to two , at 9-7.
Then Parker Brosius flipped the lead for Tech with a two-out grand slam on an 0-2 pitch. Kersey followed with a solo job, and just for good measure, the Jackets added four more runs in the eighth, featuring homers by Kent Schmidt and Vahn Lackey. Both Lackey and Keese had two roundtrippers in the contest.
Virginia mustered a single run in the eighth, and was held scoreless by Justin Shadek in the ninth to end things there.
Virginia Coach Chris Pollard held forth in the post game interview, noting that the Yellow Jacket attack can produce under any circumstances. Two of Tech's homers came on " executed pitches" meaning that the pitches had been made according to plan, and were not " mistakes" per se.
Meanwhile, Tech coach James Ramsey saluted his team's resilience. He noted too, that his all-ACC centerfielder and captain Drew Burress made a difference in this game with his defense and with his leadership. Burress was only 1-5 at the plate and he struck out twice.- uncharacteristic of him certainly.
But he made two sterling plays in tbe deep outfield, and he. also spoke to his team as they batted in the bottom of the seventh. "That", said James Ramsey; " is why he wears the C on his jersey".
Ramsey also cited the umpires who worked this game. The question was raised about a play Burress made up against the wall on a deeply ball. It looked initially as though he dropped the ball, but replay showed his sunglasses were what shook loose. Ramsey praised the umpires for their prompt and conscientious work, noting that they worked well and in a decisive manner.
Georgia Tech takes on Miami Saturday in the semifinals. Truist Park in Charlotte will see two games Saturday, with the championship game set for Sunday.
Patrick Conarro
RamblinSports