Georgia Tech Baseball: Previewing No. 18 UNC

A week after taking two of three from Duke, the No. 21 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (15-5, 4-2 ACC) host the No. 18 UNC Tarheels (12-8, 3-3 ACC).

The Tarheels have had a fantastic offense so far this year, with six players, who have started at least 12 games, who are currently hitting above .300. Freshman utility guy Brian Miller. He leads the team with a .450 batting average. With all but two of his hits coming off of singles, though, he's not the most dangerous hitter in the lineup.

That would be freshman infielder Zack Gahagan. He's hitting .333 with two home runs and 16 RBI. Both are the highest of players hitting above .300.

The Tarheels also have two players who have hit three home runs this season: junior outfielder Skye Bolt and sophomore outfielder Tyler Ramirez.

UNC brings some solid pitchers out of their bullpen. The best one they have, though, is senior right-hander Zach Kelley. He's appeared in 14 games, pitching 27.0 lights-out innings. In that time, he has gone 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA and has 24 strikeouts (second on the team).

Game 1: Friday, March 20 @ 7:00 p.m.

In Game 1, the Jackets will send regular Friday starter junior southpaw Jonathan King to the mound. King is 2-0 with a 3.14 ERA. In his 28.2 innings, he has struck out 20 batters and walked 8. He is currently holding batters to a .216 batting average.

The Tarheels will send sophomore right-hander Zac Gallen to the mound. Gallen is 1-1 with a 4.58 ERA in his five appearances (three starts). In total, he has pitched 19.2 innings and struck out 23 batters and walked five.

This game will feature a free giveaway of jersey koozies.

Game 2: Saturday, March 21 @ 1 p.m.

Senior right-hander Cole Pitts will go to the mound in Game 2 for the Jackets. In his recovery from Tommy John surgery, Pitts is still looking to re-find his control. So far this season, Pitts is 0-1 with a 3.97 ERA. He has struck out eight batters and walked seven in his 11.1 innings.

Going up against him will be freshman right-hander J.B. Bukauskas. He is 3-1 this season with a 2.70 ERA. He has struck out a team-high 30 batters and walked eight.

In this game, Georgia Tech will be offering a special deal: the Family Four Pack. With this, you can pay $40 and get four tickets, four hot dogs and four drinks.

Game 3: Saturday, March 21 @ ~4 p.m. (Will follow Game 1 of Doubleheader)

This game will feature Tech's rising star of a pitcher, sophomore right-hander Brandon Gold. Gold has been phenomenal for the Yellow Jackets this season. In his five appearances (three starts), Gold is 3-0 with a 0.61 ERA. He has also struck out a team-high 27 batters and walked five.

Matching up against him is senior right-hander Benton Moss. Moss is 2-0 with a 2.30 ERA in his three starts this season. He has struck out 26 batters and walked three.

Tech will be offering yet another promotion on Sunday. This time, they will be handing out free Danny Hall T-shirts.

How does Tech do against UNC?