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North Carolina will face Georgia Tech in a prime-time matchup between two of the best teams in the country.
The Tar Heels, ranked No. 3 nationally, are coming off a road series victory over Clemson. The Yellow Jackets, meanwhile, enter on the heels of an impressive sweep of No. 5 Florida State last week.
The winner of the series will have a chance to seize control of the ACC regular-season race. North Carolina (31-6-1, 13-5 ACC) can move into a share of first place with a series win and take over sole possession of first by sweeping the Yellow Jackets. Georgia Tech (31-5, 15-3 ACC) can secure first place with a series victory.
Here are three things to know about Georgia Tech.
The Yellow Jackets have one of the best offenses in the country, and there is no such thing as an easy out in this lineup.
Tech ranks first in runs per game (11.23), batting average (.359), on-base percentage (.477), slugging percentage (.630), OPS (1.107), isolated power (.271) and weighted on-base average (.460). Those are just some of the advanced metrics, in addition to Georgia Tech’s top marks in hits, runs and overall scoring.
The Yellow Jackets have also hit 79 home runs, which leads the ACC and ranks third nationally.
Georgia Tech has two potential first-round draft picks in outfielder Drew Burress and catcher Vahn Lackey.
Burress is ranked as the No. 5 prospect for the 2026 MLB draft, according to MLB.com. The two-time All-American is hitting .338 with 11 doubles, a team-high three triples, seven home runs and 31 RBIs.
Lackey, regarded as one of the best catchers in the country, not just the ACC, is rated the No. 12 prospect. He is batting .386 with 10 doubles, two triples, 12 home runs and 45 RBIs.
Georgia Tech’s offense usually dominates the conversation, but overlooking the Yellow Jackets’ pitching would be a mistake. Here is a quick look at the numbers for their three projected weekend starters:
Out of the bullpen, the player to watch is right-hander Mason Patel, who leads the Yellow Jackets with three saves this season. Last year, Patel posted a 3.34 ERA in 23 appearances and converted five saves.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Baseball: Three things to know about Georgia Tech
Continue reading...
The Tar Heels, ranked No. 3 nationally, are coming off a road series victory over Clemson. The Yellow Jackets, meanwhile, enter on the heels of an impressive sweep of No. 5 Florida State last week.
The winner of the series will have a chance to seize control of the ACC regular-season race. North Carolina (31-6-1, 13-5 ACC) can move into a share of first place with a series win and take over sole possession of first by sweeping the Yellow Jackets. Georgia Tech (31-5, 15-3 ACC) can secure first place with a series victory.
Here are three things to know about Georgia Tech.
Georgia Tech’s offense stings
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The Yellow Jackets have one of the best offenses in the country, and there is no such thing as an easy out in this lineup.
Tech ranks first in runs per game (11.23), batting average (.359), on-base percentage (.477), slugging percentage (.630), OPS (1.107), isolated power (.271) and weighted on-base average (.460). Those are just some of the advanced metrics, in addition to Georgia Tech’s top marks in hits, runs and overall scoring.
The Yellow Jackets have also hit 79 home runs, which leads the ACC and ranks third nationally.
The Jackets have two potential first round picks
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Georgia Tech has two potential first-round draft picks in outfielder Drew Burress and catcher Vahn Lackey.
Burress is ranked as the No. 5 prospect for the 2026 MLB draft, according to MLB.com. The two-time All-American is hitting .338 with 11 doubles, a team-high three triples, seven home runs and 31 RBIs.
Lackey, regarded as one of the best catchers in the country, not just the ACC, is rated the No. 12 prospect. He is batting .386 with 10 doubles, two triples, 12 home runs and 45 RBIs.
Underrated pitching on the mound
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Georgia Tech’s offense usually dominates the conversation, but overlooking the Yellow Jackets’ pitching would be a mistake. Here is a quick look at the numbers for their three projected weekend starters:
- Friday: Tate McKee (3.50 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, .215 avg, 43.2 IP, 45 K)
- Saturday: Porter Buursema (3.44 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, .190 avg, 18.1 IP, 27 K)
- Sunday: Jackson Blakely (2.34 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, .229 avg, 34.2 IP, 38 K)
Out of the bullpen, the player to watch is right-hander Mason Patel, who leads the Yellow Jackets with three saves this season. Last year, Patel posted a 3.34 ERA in 23 appearances and converted five saves.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Baseball: Three things to know about Georgia Tech
Continue reading...
