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Georgia Tech Baseball: Yellow Jackets Ready for Belmont in Weekend Series

By Dylan Callaghan-Croley

Aug 7, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a baseball and glove prior to a game between the Kansas City Royals and the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 7, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a baseball and glove prior to a game between the Kansas City Royals and the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Georgia Tech baseball team has their eyes set on the Belmont Bruins who come to Atlanta starting Friday for a three-game weekend series.

After having their game on Wednesday against Kennesaw State canceled, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are itching to return to the field. On Friday afternoon, the Yellow Jackets will get just that opportunity as Belmont comes to Atlanta.

The Yellow Jackets were last out on the field on Tuesday in a 12-5 victory over Georgia State. The victory over Georgia State marked the seventh victory of the season for the Jackets, who have dropped just one game so far this season.

The last time Belmont saw action was on Tuesday as well in a high-scoring affair against Southern Illinois. In a game that didn’t go extra innings, the Bruins beat the Salukis 18-17.

Georgia Tech Probable Pitchers:

Freshman Xavion Curry is expected to take the mound for Georgia Tech on Friday, making his third start of the season. Last Friday, Curry pitched 5.0 innings giving up seven hits and three runs. So far over two starts, Curry is 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA over 10 innings pitched. Curry so far is averaging one strikeout per inning while possessing an adequate WHIP of 1.50.

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Redshirt freshman Jonathan Hughes will be making his third start of the season on Saturday if all goes to plan. Last time out for Hughes was a quality start, pitching three innings allowing just one run on two hits. Hughes is still likely to bitch three to five innings over the next few starts for precaution, as he had a short 2016 season due to an arm injury.

That being said, Hughes, a former second-round MLB Draft pick should arguably be the Jackets best pitcher once he’s back in the flow this season.

On Sunday, sophomore Keyton Gibson should be back on the mound despite a rough outing last weekend. After a strong five-inning performance against Western Michigan allowing just a run, Youngstown State had batting practice off Gibson, who allowed eight runs in just an inning and two-thirds.

Getting to Know Belmont:

Belmont enters the weekend series against the Yellow Jackets winners of four of their last five. After being swept by Kent State to open the season, the Bruins have defeated Western Kentucky, Northwestern, Bowling Green, and Southern Illinois over the course the last week and a half.

As a team, the Bruins are hitting at a .251/.369/.399 with five home runs and 51 RBI. Two players that the Yellow Jackets will have to look for in the Bruins lineup this weekend are the following;

  • OF Matt Cogen:

A former Old Dominion Monarch, Cogen is in his eligible season at Belmont. The 6-foot, 195-pound outfielder is off to a hot start this season as he’s 15-for-28 (.536) with one home run and six RBI. Cogen is usually in the ___ spot in the lineup for the Bruins.

  • OF Bren Washington

A junior outfielder, Washington is the Bruin’s best power hitter as he’s belted three home runs this season and has collected nine RBI. That being said, begin a power hitter is pretty much all Washington is as he’s only collected three other hits total, two of those being doubles. His .171/.250/.267 slash is the second worst amongst starters for Belmont, that being said, it appears if Washington makes power, the chances of the ball leaving the ballpark could be quite high.

Belmont Probable Starting Pitchers:

Belmont has allowed 56 runs total this season over 72 total innings, not exactly spectacular numbers with an era of 5.38. In those 72 innings, the Bruins have allowed 82 hits including 11 home runs and 18 doubles. The one thing the Bruins do, do well on the mound is striking out opposing batters. So far this season, Belmont has 83 total strikeouts from their pitchers.

Friday: Dylan King (1-1, 0.75 ERA)

King will be making his third start on Friday when he takes on Georgia Tech. So far this season, King has been a pretty dominant pitcher allowing jut one earned run on 11 hits and two walks over 13 innings pitched. A strikeout pitcher, King has amassed 19 strikeouts over the course of his two starts. Friday night should be a great pitching duel between King and Curry.

Saturday: Tyler Vaughn (0-1, 4.91)

Like King, Vaughn is a heavy strikeout pitcher. So far this season, Vaughn has struck 18 batters in 11 innings of work. The bad news for Vaughn, however, is when opposing hitters aren’t striking out against him, they are reaching base even more. The junior has allowed 14 hits and five walks so far in two starts, to go along with his 6 earned runs.

Sunday: Connor Etheridge (0-0, 5.87)

Etheridge will be making his first start of the season on Sunday afternoon. So far this season, Etheridge has appeared in four games. In those four appearances, Etheridge has pitched seven and two-thirds innings allowing three runs on four hits and four walks.

How to Watch or Listen:

If you can’t make it down to any of the games this weekend, the good news is you can watch to all of them or listen to them on radio! All three games this weekend will be on the ACC Digital Network which many can access through ESPN3.com using your cable provider.

If you prefer listening to the radio broadcast you can catch them on WREK 91.1 FM!