Georgia Tech's Dominant Performance: A Season-Defining Win

Strategic Insights -

Georgia Tech's 6-5 victory over Southeast Missouri State in the NCAA Midwest Regional marked the fourth meeting between the two teams this season. The win came after Tech's 13-2 and 14-4 losses in the first two games of the series, with the Jackets ultimately securing the win by scoring five runs in the bottom of the ninth. With this win, Tech outscored the Indians 47-16.

Key Takeaways:

  • Friday's five home runs marked the first time Tech had hit more than two homers in an NCAA playoff game, with Stephen Donaghey hitting two, his ninth and 10th of the season.
  • Donaghey's homers brought Tech's season total to even 100 home runs, with only two Tech teams having hit more in a season: the 1987 team with 117 and the 1988 team with 107.
  • With Donaghey's performance, Tech now has six players with 10 or more home runs for the year.
  • The Jackets are second in the Midwest regional in home runs, behind only Wichita State's 121.
  • Tech has won 100 games this season, with the potential to reach 40 wins for the 12th time in the last 14 years if they win today.
  • L.J. Yankosky improved his career record to 25-4, tying him for sixth in career victories for the Jackets, and broke his previous best of 11 strikeouts with 12 against SE Missouri State.
  • Coach Danny Hall is undecided between starting junior left-hander Chuck Crowder or freshman lefty Cory Vance in today's game.
  • Crowder, who took the loss Thursday against Oklahoma State, was named third-team All-America by Collegiate Baseball magazine this week.
  • Vance was chosen to the magazine's freshman All-America team.
  • Yankosky was named this week to the GTE Academic All-District III team, posting a 4.0 GPA in graduate studies in industrial engineering.

Statistics:

  • Tech outscored SE Missouri State 47-16 in the series.
  • Donaghey hit his ninth and 10th home runs of the season.
  • Yankosky's 12 strikeouts broke his previous best of 11 against Virginia on March 7.
  • Tech has hit 100 home runs this season, with 6 players having 10 or more.
  • The Jackets are second in the Midwest regional in home runs.
  • Tech has won 100 games this season.
  • Yankosky's career record now stands at 25-4, tying him for sixth in career victories for the Jackets.

Sources:

  • Collegiate Baseball magazine
  • GTE Academic All-District III team