Georgia Tech Baseball: Previewing No. 15 Virginia

After winning six of their last seven games, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (22-11, 7-8 ACC) play host to the Virginia Cavaliers (20-12, 6-9 ACC).

Virginia has some really good hitters. Their best hitter, though, is sophomore catcher Matt Thaiss. Thaiss is currently hitting .328 with seven home runs and 28 RBI. He also does not strike out very much (11 times in 116 at-bats).

Joining him is also sophomore infielder Daniel Pinero. Pinero is hitting .298 with five home runs and 15 RBI. He also leads the Cavaliers in stolen bases with six in eight attempts.

Freshman outfielder Adam Haseley has been key to the Cavaliers success on the road (17-4 away from home). In true road games, Haseley is batting a team-best .438.

Coming out of the bullpen, the Cavaliers have a few options. They have had four different players be credited for saves this season, but the two best have been junior right-hander Josh Sborz and sophomore right-hander Alec Bettinger.

Sborz is 1-2 with a 3.09 ERA and leads the Cavaliers in saves with eights. Bettinger has been the Cavaliers' best option out of the bullpen, going 2-1 with a 2.03 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 31.0 innings.

Game 1: Friday, April 10 @ 7 p.m.

Redshirt sophomore left-hander Jonathan King will be going to the mound for the Yellow Jackets in Game 1. King is 2-1 with a 3.88 ERA. He has also struck out 28 batters and walked 15 batters in a team-high 48.2 innings.

Junior left-hander Nathan Kirby will be his opponent. Kirby has been phenomenal for the Cavaliers this season, going 4-2 with a 1. 94 ERA in his eight starts. He has also struck out a team-high 69 batters and walked 23 in his team-high 51.0 innings.

As part of a weekend full of promotions, Georgia Tech will be selling tickets for just $1.

Game 2: Saturday, April 11 @ 4 p.m.

Game 2 will see redshirt junior right-hander Cole Pitts go to the mound for the Jackets. Pitts has struggled in his return from Tommy John surgery, going 0-3 with a 6.23 ERA. In his 21.2 innings, Pitts has 17 strikeouts and 15 walks.

Virginia will send sophomore right-hander Connor Jones. Jones is 4-1 with a 2.89 ERA. He's also struck out 50 batters and walked 24 in his 46.2 innings pitched and is holding opposing batters to a starters-best .229 batting average.

As part of the weekend full of promotions, Georgia Tech will be offering the Family Four Pack for $40 which includes four tickets, four hot dogs and four drinks.

Game 3: Sunday, April 12 @ 1 p.m.

The series finale will see sophomore right-hander Brandon Gold go to the mound for the Jackets. Gold is 4-1 with a 3.13 ERA in his 46.0 innings pitched. He has struck out 43 batters and walked 13 while holding opposing batters to a .221 batting average.

His opponent will be junior left-hander Brandon Waddell. Waddell is 2-2 with a 3.79 ERA. In his 40.1 innings, he has struck out 37 batters and walked 15, but is giving up a opponents' batting average of .288.

To close out the weekend of promotions, Georgia Tech will be be having Kids Day!

Come out and join the Jackets for a fun weekend! How do the Jackets do this weekend?