The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and Western Kentucky Hilltoppers will face off in the regionals round of the NCAA Tournament today in what should be a more than even matchup than most fans would think, and here are three players that the Yellow Jackets should look out for to avoid being upset.
1. Outfielder Ryan Wideman The outfielder for the Hilltoppers will be one of the key players to watch because he currently leads the entire Conference USA in batting average at .398, but also ranks third in the conference in RBI as well, with 68. Wideman played a crucial role in the Conference USA Tournament, leading to the Hilltoppers claiming their first ever Conference USA Championship.
2. Third baseman Carlos Vasquez Vasquez may not be the power hitter that Wideman is, finishing with only five home runs, but he definitely knows his way around the bases. Vasquez was one of four players in Conference USA to finish the season with 20 or more doubles, and is second in the entire Conference in batting average, sitting at .366.
3. Drew Whalen Whalen has been the go-to pitcher for the Hilltoppers this season, as he has 15 starts, tied with Jackson Phipps for the team lead. Whalen boasts a 3.17 ERA this season, which is the second-best in Conference USA, just behind the 2.74 posted by teammate Jack Bennett. Whalen most likely gets the start for the first game, as he has been their ace and Friday starter all season long.
The Hilltoppers have a plethora of weapons at their disposal for the series, and this is just three of them.