Georgia Tech baseball is the third seed overall in this year’s NCAA Tournament and are the hosts of the Atlanta Regional. The Jackets are hosting Auburn, Coastal Carolina, and Florida A&M. Today, we preview the Auburn Tigers out of the SEC.
The Auburn Tigers will enter the Atlanta Regional with a 33-25 overall record and a 14-16 record in conference. While the Tigers certainty struggled in conference play this season, they were superb in non-conference play going 18-7 in the regular season against non-SEC opponents.
Don’t be fooled by their overall record of just being eight games overall .500 as the Tigers finished the regular season as the No.19 team in the RPI and the team with the hardest schedule in the country. That being said, b=by playing in the SEC, they’re SOS was impacted heavily as the SEC was by far the best conference in basketball this season. That being said, with the No.1 strength of schedule.. When facing teams in Quadrant 1 (No.1 – to – No.50) , the Tigers went 15-21, a winning percentage of 41.7%
The Tigers and Jackets do have history with each other this season with a home-and-home series. The Jackets took both games of the season series. On April 2nd, the Jackets traveled to Auburn and took down the Jackets 9-2 before the Tigers came to Russ Chandler a few weeks later and took the game by a final score of 11-6.
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If the Tigers want to advance out of Atlanta and into the Super Regional portion of the tournament, they’ll need more fire power from their offense. Through their first 58 games this season, the Tigers offensive numbers are about average. Averaging just 8.9 hits per game and 5.7 runs per game, the TIgers offense this season has been in the middle of the pack nationally. Overall, they’re hitting .260 with a on-base percentage of .353. They’ll collect their fair share of doubles but when it comes to triples and home runs, they’re more limited., totaling just 9 triples and 41 home runs this season.
Their names to know offensively are infielder Connor Judd, outfielder Judd Ward, and infielder Will Holland. Judd this season is hitting a team-leading .290 this season with an on-base percentage of .350. He does have some power, collecting a total of 17 extra base hits including six home runs. Ward is hitting .281 on the season but has an on-base percentage of .389. He has 17 extra base hits including four home runs. Holland, on the other hand, is hitting just .240 this season but is Auburn’s biggest power threat with nine home runs on the season.
On the hill, the Tigers have put together a team ERA of 4.53 on the season and a WHIP of 1.45. additionally, the Tigers have allowed 9.1 hits per game this season and 5.2 runs per game. Their pitching staff is lead by starters Tanner Burns (4-3, 2.80 ERA) and Jack Owen (4-2, 2.29 ERA). The Tigers haven’t announced their probable starters for this weekend’s regional but the Jackets should expect to get one of those two starters. In the bullpen, the Tigers rely heavily on Cody Greenhill and Will Morrison. Both relievers have appeared in 24 games this season for the Tigers. Greenhill has amassed an ERA of 3.24 while Morrison has an ERA of 4.56.
Overall, Danny Hall’s Tech program will have to be careful when they take on the Tigers. While they have beat them twice this season, getting a third straight win over an opponent is always hard especially one as talented as Auburn. The Tigers are a team that can make a run in the NCAA Tournament but a lot of things will have to come together for the Tigers especially offensively.