GAME 16: #25 GEORGIA TECH (12-3) vs. AUBURN (8-8)
Tuesday, March 15 // Russ Chandler Stadium // Atlanta, Ga.
First Pitch: 6 p.m. // TV: ESPN3 // Radio: WREK 91.1 FM
GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS (12-3)
Last Game: L, 3-8 at Florida State (March 13)
2016 Home Record: 10-0
Head Coach: Danny Hall (Miami – Ohio, 1977)
Career Record: 1,143-572-1 (29th year)
Starting Pitcher: RHP Cole Pitts (1-0, 4.09 ERA)
AUBURN TIGERS (8-8)
Last Game: W, 18-11 vs. Oral Roberts (March 13)
2016 Road Record: 0-0
Head Coach: Butch Thompson (Birmingham-Southern, 1992)
Career Record: 47-20 (2nd year)
Starting Pitcher: LHP Andrew Mitchell (2-0, 2.12 ERA)
LEADING OFF: STORYLINES TO KNOW
SERIES HISTORY• Auburn leads 119-107-5
•Streak: Georgia Tech, 2 wins
•Home Record vs. Auburn: 63-48-2
•Last Meeting: March 8, 2016 (W, 4-1)
•Danny Hallvs. Auburn: 8-6
•GT in Last 5 Meetings: 3-2
•GT in Last 10 Meetings: 6-4
A TECH WIN TUESDAY WOULD...
• Snap Georgia Tech’s three-game losing streak.
• Extend the Jackets’ home winning streak to 12 games, their longest since winning 16 straight from March 4-27, 2011.
• Be the Jackets’ 22nd straight nonconference home win.
• Be the Jackets’ 108th win in the series, dating back to 1897.
• Be head coach Danny Hall’s 1,144th career victory and 936th at Georgia Tech.
• Improve Tech’s record to 299-103 all-time in the month of March underDanny Hall.
MIDWEEK SUCCESS
• Georgia Tech is 18-4 in its last 22 midweek games, dating back to the final seven midweek contests of the 2014 season. Tech, which has defeated Georgia Southern, Georgia State and Auburn in midweek games, was 9-3 in such games in 2015.
• Since going 7-7 in midweek games in 2011, the Yellow Jackets are 39-17 in midweek contests.
CH-CH-CHANGES
• Georgia Tech has used 15 different lineups to open the 2016 season. So far, head coachDanny Hallhas used eight different combinations in the infield and 11 more in the outfield.
• Only three players have started every game for the Jackets –Wade Bailey,Connor JustusandMatt Gonzalez. Bailey and Justus are the only players to start in the same position in all 15 games.
HOME, SWEET HOME
• Georgia Tech enters this week with an 11-game home winning streak, dating back to its home finale against Pittsburgh in 2015.
• Georgia Tech, which is 10-0 at home this season, has won 17 of its last 19 home games.
• The Yellow Jackets have also won 21 straight nonconference home games.
GONZO ON THE CAREER LISTS
• Senior 3B/LFMatt Gonzalezranks amongst the nation’s active career leaders in games played (t5th, 195), at bats (2nd, 768), hits (3rd, 230) and sacrifice flies (1st, 17).
• Gonzalez is four sac flies shy of tying the school record of 21 held by Jason Basil (1998-2001). He is also 24 hits away from cracking Tech’s career top 20 list for hits.
NICE WEEK, ROOK
• Freshman C/DHJoey Bartwas impressive at the plate last week against Auburn and Florida State. In three games, he led the Jackets with a .500 average (6-for-12) with 2 doubles and 6 RBI.
• As the starting catcher March 8 at Auburn, Bart went 2-for-3 with a double and 3 RBI to lead the Jackets to a 4-1 road win.
• In two games against the Seminoles, Bart went 4-for-9 with one double and 3 RBI. In Sunday’s loss at Florida State, Bart made his career-first start as the designated hitter and finished with a career-high 3 hits and tied his career high with 3 RBI.
THE CLOSER
• JuniorMatthew Gorsthas already quadrupled his career saves output in 2016. Gorst has recorded four of Tech’s five save opportunities. Gorst owns a 0.90 ERA, allowing one earned run and just eight baserunners with 16 strikeouts in 10.0 innings.
• Gorst owns a 8:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio (16 K, 2 BB) this season. He had a career 1:1 ratio (48 K, 48 BB) in his first two seasons with the Yellow Jackets.
MEET IN THE MIDDLE
• Georgia Tech’s double play duo of 2BWade Baileyand SSConnor Justushave been instrumental both in the field and at the plate through 15 games. Justus and Bailey rank among the team leaders in batting average, runs scored, hits and doubles).
Tuesday, March 15 // Russ Chandler Stadium // Atlanta, Ga.
First Pitch: 6 p.m. // TV: ESPN3 // Radio: WREK 91.1 FM
GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS (12-3)
Last Game: L, 3-8 at Florida State (March 13)
2016 Home Record: 10-0
Head Coach: Danny Hall (Miami – Ohio, 1977)
Career Record: 1,143-572-1 (29th year)
Starting Pitcher: RHP Cole Pitts (1-0, 4.09 ERA)
AUBURN TIGERS (8-8)
Last Game: W, 18-11 vs. Oral Roberts (March 13)
2016 Road Record: 0-0
Head Coach: Butch Thompson (Birmingham-Southern, 1992)
Career Record: 47-20 (2nd year)
Starting Pitcher: LHP Andrew Mitchell (2-0, 2.12 ERA)
LEADING OFF: STORYLINES TO KNOW
- Senior 3B/LFMatt Gonzalezranks amongst the nation’s active career leaders in games played (t5th), at bats (2nd), hits (3rd) and sacrifice flies (1st).
- Georgia Tech is 18-4 in its last 22 midweek games, dating back to the final seven midweek contests of the 2014 season. Tech, which has defeated Georgia Southern, Georgia State and Auburn in midweek games, was 9-3 in such games in 2015.
- Through 15 games, Georgia Tech leads the nation in both double plays turned (29) and double plays per game (1.93). Since 2012, the Yellow Jackets have turned 275 double plays – the highest total nationally during that span.
- Freshman C/DHJoey Bartwas impressive at the plate last week against Auburn and Florida State. In three games, he led the Jackets with a .500 average (6-for-12) with 2 doubles and 6 RBI.
- Georgia Tech enters this week with an 11-game home winning streak. Georgia Tech has won 17 of its last 19 home games. The Yellow Jackets have also won 21 straight nonconference home games.
- Junior catcherArden Pabsthas thrown out 41 baserunners in three seasons behind the plate, throwing out runners 43 percent of the time.
- Matthew Gorsthas recorded four saves. Gorst owns a 0.90 ERA, allowing one earned run and just eight baserunners with 16 strikeouts in 10.0 innings.
- Georgia Tech has used 15 different lineups to open the 2016 season. Only 2BWade Baileyand SSConnor Justushave started every game at the same position.
- Brandon GoldandTristin Englishhave scored the game-winning runs in six of Tech’s 12 wins this season. Both have scored the winning run three times.
SERIES HISTORY• Auburn leads 119-107-5
•Streak: Georgia Tech, 2 wins
•Home Record vs. Auburn: 63-48-2
•Last Meeting: March 8, 2016 (W, 4-1)
•Danny Hallvs. Auburn: 8-6
•GT in Last 5 Meetings: 3-2
•GT in Last 10 Meetings: 6-4
A TECH WIN TUESDAY WOULD...
• Snap Georgia Tech’s three-game losing streak.
• Extend the Jackets’ home winning streak to 12 games, their longest since winning 16 straight from March 4-27, 2011.
• Be the Jackets’ 22nd straight nonconference home win.
• Be the Jackets’ 108th win in the series, dating back to 1897.
• Be head coach Danny Hall’s 1,144th career victory and 936th at Georgia Tech.
• Improve Tech’s record to 299-103 all-time in the month of March underDanny Hall.
MIDWEEK SUCCESS
• Georgia Tech is 18-4 in its last 22 midweek games, dating back to the final seven midweek contests of the 2014 season. Tech, which has defeated Georgia Southern, Georgia State and Auburn in midweek games, was 9-3 in such games in 2015.
• Since going 7-7 in midweek games in 2011, the Yellow Jackets are 39-17 in midweek contests.
CH-CH-CHANGES
• Georgia Tech has used 15 different lineups to open the 2016 season. So far, head coachDanny Hallhas used eight different combinations in the infield and 11 more in the outfield.
• Only three players have started every game for the Jackets –Wade Bailey,Connor JustusandMatt Gonzalez. Bailey and Justus are the only players to start in the same position in all 15 games.
HOME, SWEET HOME
• Georgia Tech enters this week with an 11-game home winning streak, dating back to its home finale against Pittsburgh in 2015.
• Georgia Tech, which is 10-0 at home this season, has won 17 of its last 19 home games.
• The Yellow Jackets have also won 21 straight nonconference home games.
GONZO ON THE CAREER LISTS
• Senior 3B/LFMatt Gonzalezranks amongst the nation’s active career leaders in games played (t5th, 195), at bats (2nd, 768), hits (3rd, 230) and sacrifice flies (1st, 17).
• Gonzalez is four sac flies shy of tying the school record of 21 held by Jason Basil (1998-2001). He is also 24 hits away from cracking Tech’s career top 20 list for hits.
NICE WEEK, ROOK
• Freshman C/DHJoey Bartwas impressive at the plate last week against Auburn and Florida State. In three games, he led the Jackets with a .500 average (6-for-12) with 2 doubles and 6 RBI.
• As the starting catcher March 8 at Auburn, Bart went 2-for-3 with a double and 3 RBI to lead the Jackets to a 4-1 road win.
• In two games against the Seminoles, Bart went 4-for-9 with one double and 3 RBI. In Sunday’s loss at Florida State, Bart made his career-first start as the designated hitter and finished with a career-high 3 hits and tied his career high with 3 RBI.
THE CLOSER
• JuniorMatthew Gorsthas already quadrupled his career saves output in 2016. Gorst has recorded four of Tech’s five save opportunities. Gorst owns a 0.90 ERA, allowing one earned run and just eight baserunners with 16 strikeouts in 10.0 innings.
• Gorst owns a 8:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio (16 K, 2 BB) this season. He had a career 1:1 ratio (48 K, 48 BB) in his first two seasons with the Yellow Jackets.
MEET IN THE MIDDLE
• Georgia Tech’s double play duo of 2BWade Baileyand SSConnor Justushave been instrumental both in the field and at the plate through 15 games. Justus and Bailey rank among the team leaders in batting average, runs scored, hits and doubles).
