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North Carolina will have a prime-time matchup against Georgia Tech in a game 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, are coming off an impressive series win of their own, having swept No. 5 Florida State last week.
If North Carolina (31-6-1, 13-5 ACC) is going to beat Georgia Tech (31-5, 15-3 ACC), there are three things the Tar Heels must do.
While it may be overshadowed by arguably the nation’s best offense, Georgia Tech’s pitching staff is solid and doesn’t give up much. Because of that, it is crucial for the Tar Heels to get on base by any means necessary.
The good news for North Carolina is that it ranks 36th nationally in both hits and on-base percentage. It is also 16th in sacrifice flies, which are often critical for moving runners and driving them in.
One key area to watch is Georgia Tech’s control. The Yellow Jackets’ staff has hit 35 opposing batters, which ranks 270th nationally. That could work in UNC’s favor, as North Carolina leads the ACC in hit-by-pitches with 67.
No lineup in college baseball is swinging it better than Georgia Tech right now. The Yellow Jackets have piled up 38 runs over their last three games, including two wins against fellow top-10 opponent Florida State.
Georgia Tech features two potential first-round picks in outfielder Drew Burress (.338, 11 doubles, 3 triples, 7 home runs, 31 RBIs) and catcher Vahn Lackey (.386, 10 doubles, 2 triples, 12 home runs, 45 RBIs). The Jackets also have two hitters batting over .400 in Jarren Advincula and Carson Kerce, plus a prototypical power threat in Ryan Zuckerman, who has 14 home runs.
North Carolina’s bullpen should have a say in this series, but the initial burden falls on the Diamond Heels’ starting rotation to keep Tech off the bases. Among UNC’s regular starters, only Jason DeCaro has an ERA below 3.00.
If North Carolina is going to knock off Georgia Tech at home, it has to establish control on the mound from the first pitch.
Neutralizing Georgia Tech’s bats will be a difficult task. The Yellow Jackets are one of the better hitting teams in the country, and it’s only a matter of time before they start to square balls up and find gaps. The key for North Carolina, though, is not compounding that by putting extra runners on base with walks.
If either of those things happens — or both — the Tar Heels will be forced to lean heavily on their bullpen. And while relievers Caden Glauber, Matthew Matthijs, Walker McDuffie and Jackson Rose have all been strong this season, it’s still in UNC’s best interest for its starters to work as deep into games as possible. The fewer arms used, the better, especially when it comes to managing matchups over the course of a series and, in particular, a potential rubber match.
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 vs Georgia Tech: 3 keys to victory
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The Tar Heels, ranked No. 3 nationally, are coming off a road series victory over Clemson. The Yellow Jackets, meanwhile, are coming off an impressive series win of their own, having swept No. 5 Florida State last week.
If North Carolina (31-6-1, 13-5 ACC) is going to beat Georgia Tech (31-5, 15-3 ACC), there are three things the Tar Heels must do.
Just get on base
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While it may be overshadowed by arguably the nation’s best offense, Georgia Tech’s pitching staff is solid and doesn’t give up much. Because of that, it is crucial for the Tar Heels to get on base by any means necessary.
The good news for North Carolina is that it ranks 36th nationally in both hits and on-base percentage. It is also 16th in sacrifice flies, which are often critical for moving runners and driving them in.
One key area to watch is Georgia Tech’s control. The Yellow Jackets’ staff has hit 35 opposing batters, which ranks 270th nationally. That could work in UNC’s favor, as North Carolina leads the ACC in hit-by-pitches with 67.
Cool off Georgia Tech’s bats
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No lineup in college baseball is swinging it better than Georgia Tech right now. The Yellow Jackets have piled up 38 runs over their last three games, including two wins against fellow top-10 opponent Florida State.
Georgia Tech features two potential first-round picks in outfielder Drew Burress (.338, 11 doubles, 3 triples, 7 home runs, 31 RBIs) and catcher Vahn Lackey (.386, 10 doubles, 2 triples, 12 home runs, 45 RBIs). The Jackets also have two hitters batting over .400 in Jarren Advincula and Carson Kerce, plus a prototypical power threat in Ryan Zuckerman, who has 14 home runs.
North Carolina’s bullpen should have a say in this series, but the initial burden falls on the Diamond Heels’ starting rotation to keep Tech off the bases. Among UNC’s regular starters, only Jason DeCaro has an ERA below 3.00.
If North Carolina is going to knock off Georgia Tech at home, it has to establish control on the mound from the first pitch.
Try to save the arms
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Neutralizing Georgia Tech’s bats will be a difficult task. The Yellow Jackets are one of the better hitting teams in the country, and it’s only a matter of time before they start to square balls up and find gaps. The key for North Carolina, though, is not compounding that by putting extra runners on base with walks.
If either of those things happens — or both — the Tar Heels will be forced to lean heavily on their bullpen. And while relievers Caden Glauber, Matthew Matthijs, Walker McDuffie and Jackson Rose have all been strong this season, it’s still in UNC’s best interest for its starters to work as deep into games as possible. The fewer arms used, the better, especially when it comes to managing matchups over the course of a series and, in particular, a potential rubber match.
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 vs Georgia Tech: 3 keys to victory
Continue reading...
