After beating the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Georgia Tech will now face off against in-state rival the University of Georgia in the regional finals, where the Yellow Jackets will need to beat the Bulldogs twice to advance to the super regional finals.
Here’s how to watch tonight’s game:
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (33-24) vs. Georgia Bulldogs (41-15)
Date Time
• Sunday, June 2 at 6pm ET (ESPN+)
Stadium
• Foley Field – Athens, Georgia
Online TV
• Tonight’s game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and the Georgia Tech GameDay App
Below is a preview of tonight’s opponents from our very own Rohan Roman.
“When these two teams played three clean-cut, old-fashioned hate matches earlier this year, Georgia won both games after the season opener was canceled due to weather. But their 0-2 record against the Bulldogs is a bit misleading. In Game 1, Georgia Tech lost 3-1 after leaving 12 runners on base. In Game 2, their bullpen collapsed over the final three innings and they lost 11-9. In both games, the starting pitchers delivered strong performances and the offense was adequate. If they had taken advantage of their opportunities or the bullpen had a more even performance, they would have won both games.
It won’t be easy. The Bulldogs boast a strong offense, led by third baseman Charlie Condon. His 35 home runs this year have come with an astounding .443 batting average and 1.601 OPS. Condon was actually pretty quiet in the Georgia Tech vs. Georgia game, not getting a hit in three at-bats, but he made up for it in the second game with two RBIs in five at-bats. The Jackets’ starting rotation will need to adjust accordingly to get Condon closer to his previous performance.
The Bulldogs rank in the top 10 in the nation in runs per game, home runs, on-base percentage and slugging percentage, and the talent of this lineup goes beyond Condon. First baseman Corey Collins, second baseman Slate Alford, shortstop Colby Branch and designated hitter Dylan Goldstein all hit double-digit home runs and posted OPSs above .900. This lineup is arguably one of the most talented lineups the Georgia Tech pitchers have faced this year. The Georgia Tech pitchers will have a tough job holding them scoreless.
The Bulldogs rank in the top 10 in the nation in runs per game, home runs, on-base percentage and slugging percentage, and the talent of this lineup goes beyond Condon. First baseman Corey Collins, second baseman Slate Alford, shortstop Colby Branch and designated hitter Dylan Goldstein all hit double-digit home runs and posted OPSs above .900. This lineup is arguably one of the most talented lineups the Georgia Tech pitchers have faced this year. The Georgia Tech pitchers will have a tough job holding them scoreless.
The pitchers have it a little easier. The Bulldogs are a strikeout-heavy team, with a 26.5% strikeout rate that ranks 11th in the country, but the rest of the team is mediocre. Layton Finley has played like a clear ace this year, with a 4.53 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 14 starts. Christian McNa has one less strikeout, but his 5.61 ERA indicates he’s a bit more vulnerable to strikeouts. Still, the pitcher most likely to make a fool of hitters is Colten Smith, whose 4.40 ERA and 94 strikeouts last year were a real pain for hitters. Georgia’s relief staff is more varied. DJ Radke and Zach DeVito allow few runs, but don’t strike out much either. Zach Harris and Josh Roberge have struck out far more but are giving up runs with ERAs of 6.83 and 7.41, respectively. Georgia Tech’s lineup has a good chance of doing some damage if they can get past the starting pitchers.
Georgia is one of the few teams that could win a shootout against Georgia Tech. This matchup will come down to which team plays better in the key moments of the game. The Yellow Jackets’ relief pitchers will have to play at their best to close out this lineup, but it wouldn’t be surprising if Georgia’s starting pitchers struggle against Georgia Tech’s lineup.”
