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Georgia Tech Baseball: Jackets seek revenge against Pittsburgh in ACC Tournament Opener

By Dylan Callaghan-Croley

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 08: A general view of baseball gloves ahead of the Philadephia Phillies versus Atlanta Braves during their opening day game at Turner Field on April 8, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 08: A general view of baseball gloves ahead of the Philadephia Phillies versus Atlanta Braves during their opening day game at Turner Field on April 8, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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The Georgia Tech baseball team will seek revenge against the Pittsburgh Panthers on Tuesday in their ACC Tournament opener.

When the Georgia Tech baseball team took on the Pittsburgh Panthers earlier this season, the series did not go the way the Yellow Jackets wanted. The Panthers ended up taking two of three from the Jackets and if it wasn’t for a few clutch hits late in the first game of the series, the Panthers would’ve have swept the series.

On Tuesday, the Georgia Tech baseball team will seek revenge on the Panthers for that series as they look to start their ACC Tournament opener with a victory. The Jackets will be looking to win their sixth ACC tournament this season which would be the most in the ACC since 2000.

The Jackets will send Xzavion Curry to the mound on Tuesday against the Panthers. Curry will start the Jackets tournament opener after posting a 8-3 record with a 4.31 ERA on the season. Connor Thomas who was one of the best pitchers in the ACC down the stretch will start Friday’s game against the Tar Heels.

The Panthers on Tuesday will send senior Matt Pidich who is 5-2 with a 3.20 ERA on the season. Earlier this season, Pidich kept the Jackets at bay, pitching 8.1 innings allowing just three runs, two earned while striking out eight. That being said, Pidich has allowed four and five runs in two of his last three starts.

It doesn’t have to be said, but Tuesday’s game for the Yellow Jackets is a must win with a tough matchup against North Carolina coming on Friday. Xzavion Curry was nearly unhittable at times this year and on Tuesday, Curry will need to find that form, without it, it could be tough for the Jackets to pull out a victory.

The biggest factor in Tuesday’s game? That would be the Jackets bullpen that has been up and down throughout the season. The Panthers are the worst hitting team in the Jackets group, hitting at just a .239 batting average on the season but the Jackets bullpen has struggled against this Pittsburgh team before.

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Of course, with the Jackets offense anything is possible. They have struggled against below average pitching staffs and have crushed some of the best pitching staffs. That being said, not many teams can tout a lineup as strong as the Jackets with players such as Wade Bailey, Joey Bart, Tristin English, Kyle McCann and Chase Murray.

First pitch is set for 11:00 a.m at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, North Carolina. The game could be viewed on the ACC Network via ESPN3.