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Georgia Tech Baseball: Jackets have big midweek challenge against Auburn

By Dylan Callaghan-Croley

4 Mar 1998: A general view of a baseball laying in a glove on the grass during an Arizona Diamondbacks spring training game against the Chicago Cubs at Hohkam Stadium in Mesa, Arizona. The Diamondbacks defeated the Cubs 9-8.
4 Mar 1998: A general view of a baseball laying in a glove on the grass during an Arizona Diamondbacks spring training game against the Chicago Cubs at Hohkam Stadium in Mesa, Arizona. The Diamondbacks defeated the Cubs 9-8. /
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The Georgia Tech baseball team will look to stay perfect in their midweek games as they take on a top-25 Auburn program.

Georgia Tech is undefeated in their midweek showdowns so far this season with a perfect 6-0 record. Last week, they took down a top-10 Georgia squad by the final score of 11-2. Coming off a series victory over Notre Dame, the Jackets are winners of 5 of their last 7 and are playing some of their best baseball of the season.

Overall, the Jackets enter their game against Auburn on Tuesday with a 19-9 record with a 12-4 non-conference record. Auburn, on the other hand, enters the game with a 22-6 overall record and a 16-3 record in non-conference play. The Tigers are coming off a slower week for themselves, going 2-2 on the week, losing their midweek game against Alabama before taking two of three from South Carolina.

Auburn on Tuesday will be the Jackets 12th game against a Quadrant No.1 opponents (opponents ranked in the top-50 of RPI). In their first 11 games, the Jackets are 6-5 on the season.

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Taking the mound for the Jackets on Tuesday will most likely be junior right-hander Amos Willingham. Willingham spent the last two seasons in Boaz, Alabama at Snead State Community College.

Willingham has appeared in eight games this season for the Jackets, including five starts. Each of his five starts has been midweek games. So far this season, Willingham has gathered a 4-0 record and a 3.27 ERA over 33.0 innings pitched. Over his last three starts, he’s been quality for the Jackets, pitching 17.1 innings while allowing just five runs, an ERA of 2.63.

Willingham will have a challenge against Auburn’s lineup that has been decent throughout the season. The Tigers are hitting .268 as a team with 21 home runs, 46 doubles, and six triples this season. Junior Rankin Woley and Kason Howell are the Tigers best hitters when it comes to getting on base with both players hitting above .300 and on-base percentages of .391 and .381 respectively. That being said, Quebec export Edouard Julien is the Tigers most dangerous hitter with a .280 batting average, 6 home runs, and 29 RBI through his first 27 games.

Taking the mound for Auburn on Tuesday will be freshman right-hander Garrett Wade. Wade has been the Jackets midweek starter for the Tigers this season but has yet to pitch in more than five innings. Last week, he pitched just 3.2 innings against Alabama. Overall, Wade is 3-0 on the season with a 3.72 ERA over 19.1 innings pitched this season. He does strike out a good amount of batters with 27 on the season but does also walk almost a batter per inning with 17 over 19.1 innings. The one thing he has not done, however, is giving up the long ball with just one home run allowed on the season.

The Jackets bats in March were alive and loud as the Jackets offensive came alive and brought a batting average once in the low .200s, all the way to where the Jackets sit entering Tuesday with a .292 batting average. The Jackets lineup is the best Wade will have faced this season. If the Jackets could take advantage of any shakiness early in the game, it could end up being a big day for the Jackets offensively.

First pitch on Tuesday is scheduled for 7:00 pm at Plainsman Park in Auburn.