While a lot of the recent criticism for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets has fallen on the shoulders of the lineup, as they just now got back in a groove after a seven game losing streak where the Yellow Jackets scored two runs or less in five straight games during the losing streak. However, it was another area that I have also seen as a problem over the weekend series against the Virginia Cavaliers: the bullpen.
The Yellow Jackets lineup did finally come to life in the first game of the series against the Cavaliers, scoring nine runs, but five relief pitchers would combine to allow seven runs in 5.2 innings en route to a 12-9 loss.
In game two, starting pitcher Brady Jones would pitch 6.1 innings and allow four earned runs, but the relief was no help, as Kayden Campbell would come in and allow two hits before recording a single out, and would subsequently be replaced by Carson Ballard, who would allow two runs on three hits while pitching the rest of the game.
Game three of the series seen the only viable relief pitching through the entire weekend for the Yellow Jackets, as Mason Patel would deliver a masterful last three innings of pitching to close out the series and eventually get the win, after outfielder Drew Burress hit a game tying two run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, and Kent Schmidt would hit a walk off game winning home run in the bottom of the tenth inning.