April 27, 2017

Jackets Step Out of ACC Play this Weekend at UIC

April 27, 2017

Georgia Tech Game Notes | UIC Game Notes
2017 GT Baseball Information Guide

THE FLATS – Georgia Tech baseball (20-20) will remain out of conference play this weekend, as the Yellow Jackets travel to the Windy City of Chicago, Illinois to face off with the University of Illinois-Chicago Flames (29-9) for a three-game series at Curtis Granderson Stadium.

SCHEDULE CHANGES

• This weekend’s schedule has already been changed due to forecasts of inclement weather throughout the Chicago area.

• The Jackets and Flames are now scheduled to play a doubleheader on Friday, April 28, beginning at 1 p.m. ET/12 p.m. CT at Curtis Granderson Stadium in Chicago.

• Game three of the series is slated for a 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT start time on Saturday, April 29.

FOLLOW THE ACTION LIVE

• All three games are scheduled to be video streamed live on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN App.

• Live stats can be found at UICFlames.com. A link to live stats can also be found on the baseball schedule page at RamblinWreck.com or at the top of this page.

• Wiley Ballard will also broadcast all three games live over the radio air waves on WREK 91.1 FM.

• Make sure to follow the Jackets on Twitter (@GTBaseball) for schedule change and in-game updates.

LEADING OFF

• Georgia Tech and Illinois-Chicago will be playing for the first time this weekend since the 2011 season. Tech swept the Flames in a three-game series 9-2, 10-2, and 5-1 back on May 7-9, 2011.

• Friday’s doubleheader (weather permitting) will be the second doubleheader of the season for the Jackets. Georgia Tech split a doubleheader just one week ago at Virginia Tech. GT took the first game of the twin bill by a score of 13-3, but then lost the second game 8-4.

• The Jackets have won all three of their non-conference weekend series thus far this season. Georgia Tech swept BYU, Marshall and Western Michigan in the Atlanta Challenge to open up the season. The Jackets then took two of three games over Youngstown State and Belmont the following two weekends before moving to ACC weekend play in mid-March.

• Tech has had five multi-home run games by a single player so far this season. Kel Johnson hit three home runs at Georgia Southern on Feb. 21, while Joey Bart hit two home runs in a single game versus Belmont on Mar. 4 and again at Mercer on Mar. 28. Coleman Poje blasted two home runs at Wake Forest on Mar. 24, while Wade Bailey hit two home runs in the Jackets’ win at VT on April 22.

• The Georgia Tech offense will have its work cut out for them this weekend, as the Flames’ pitching staff ranks in the top-10 nationally in six different pitching and defensive categories – first in fielding percentage (.985), second in WHIP (1.12), fourth in ERA (2.66), sixth in shutouts (7), seventh in hits allowed per game (7.13) and ninth in double plays (43).

• Georgia Tech enters play this weekend at UIC with a seven-game winning streak over the Flames. Tech has each of the last seven games over UIC since the Flames defeated GT 11-4 in game two of a three-game series at Russ Chandler Stadium on Feb. 17, 2007.

• Tech is 8-1 all-time versus the UIC Flames on the baseball diamond. The Jackets took two of three games in a three-game series at home back in 2007 and then swept UIC both in 2010 at Russ Chandler Stadium and in 2011 in Chicago.

• Georgia Tech has just nine ACC regular season games remaining this season. With only three series left, the Jackets will look to gain ground in the Coastal Division where they are just two games out of fourth-place.

• The Jackets have blasted a total of 11 home runs over their last five games. Tech hit two home runs in the 7-0 win at Georgia State on April 19 and then totaled seven home runs as a team in the series win at Virginia Tech on April 21 & 22, before hitting two more solo shots on Tuesday in the loss to the Georgia Bulldogs.

HISTORY VERSUS UIC

• Georgia Tech and UIC will be meeting this weekend for the first time since 2011.

• The Jackets swept the Flames 3-0 in a three-game series back on May 7-9 in Chicago.

• Tech is 8-1 all-time versus UIC, including having won seven straight over the Flames since 2007.

• The Yellow Jackets are 3-0 on the road in Chicago versus UIC on its home turf.

A LOT ON THE LINE FOR THE JACKETS

• There is a lot on the line for the Jackets this weekend, as Tech has won seven straight over UIC entering play this week.

• Of their 2017 opponents, Tech’s seven-game winning streak over UIC is the second longest streak trailing the Jackets’ nine-game winning streak over the Georgia State Panthers.

MIDWEST REDEMPTION

• Georgia Tech has played just three games in the Midwest thus far this season, a three-game ACC series against the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame back on April 7-9.

• The Jackets were swept by the Irish 4-3, 4-3 and 9-6 and thus will be looking for redemption this weekend at UIC.

NON-CONFERENCE WEEKEND SERIES SUCCESS

• The Jackets have won all three of its non-conference weekend series thus far this season. Tech swept the Atlanta Challenge with wins over BYU, Marshall and Western Michigan and then took two of three games from both Youngstown State and Belmont the following two weekends.

• In fact, Tech has won 14 straight non-conference weekend series dating all the way back to opening weekend in 2014 when the Jackets dropped two of three games in the Battle in Midtown.

SWINGING A HOT BAT THE LAST SIX GAMES

• Georgia Tech’s offense has heated back up over the last six games, as five different players have hit over .300 the past two weeks of play in which the Jackets have gone 4-2 overall.

• Junior Trevor Craport is leading the offensive surge, as he has hit .407 (11-for-27) over the last six games with a home run, six doubles, seven RBIs and six runs scored.

• Senior outfielder Ryan Peurifoy has come on strong as of late, as he has hit .348 (8-for-23) with one home run, two doubles, five RBIs and five runs scored over the last two weeks.

• Close behind him is freshman Austin Wilhite. Wilhite has hit .333 (7-for-21) with two doubles, an RBI and two runs scored over the last six outings.

• Catcher Joey Bart has found his form again after a drought, as he has hit .321 (9-for-28) with two home runs, three doubles, nine RBIs and seven runs scored over the last six contests.

• It has all started with Wade Bailey moving back into the lead-off spot, as the junior second baseman has hit .308 (8-for-26) with two home runs, a triple, a double, four walks, three RBIs and nine runs scored.

ON DECK

• Georgia Tech will take off from midweek play next week due to final exams before returning to ACC play against the Pittsburgh Panthers on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, May 7-8, at Russ Chandler Stadium.

For the latest information on the Georgia Tech baseball team, follow us on Twitter (@GTBaseball), Facebook, Instagram (@gt_baseball) or visit us at www.ramblinwreck.com.