Georgia Tech Can't Avoid Sweep, Loses 9-2 in Game Three vs North Carolina

Jackson Caudell | Mar 24, 2024

Georgia Tech v Virginia / Eakin Howard/GettyImages

Cover Photo Courtesty: Eakin Howard/GettyImages

A tough weekend for Georgia Tech in Chapel Hill got even tougher today.

The Yellow Jackets had one more opportunity to get a win on the road vs No. 20 North Carolina, but they came up short again today. The offense struggled again and Logan McGuire and the rest of the pitching staff could not keep UNC’s offense contained. Georgia Tech came into this series with a lot of confidence and a nine-game winning streak, but they leave Chapel Hill with a three-game losing streak and no momentum.

Let’s recap game three.

McGuire got the start for the Yellow Jackets today and here is how they lined up:

1. LF Trey Yunger

2.       CF Drew Burress

3.       C Matthew Ellis

4.       1B Cam Jones

5.       3B Carson Kerce

6.       SS Payton Green

7.        RF Parker Brosius

8.       DH Bobby Zmarzlak

9.      2B Mark Becchetti

The first inning was a nightmare for Georgia Tech.

After going down 1-2-3 in the top of the inning, UNC’s offense got rolling. A single and two walks loaded the bases and then a 2-RBI double got the first two runs of the game on the board for the Tar Heels. A ground out would get another run on the board and going to the second inning, North Carolina led 3-0. It was an early hole for Georgia Tech.

Jones got a leadoff single for the Yellow Jackets in the top of the inning, but they went down after that. McGuire bounced back in the second inning, only allowing a walk and getting to the next inning quickly.

After no runs were scored in the third from either team, Georgia Tech finally got a run across. Burress and Ellis singled to start the inning and Jones hit a sac fly to bring Burress across the plate and make it 3-1. It was the only run of the inning, but the Yellow Jackets cut into the lead.

Then North Carolina widened it again.

McGuire gave up back-to-back home runs to start the bottom of the inning and Ben King replaced McGuire with Georgia Tech down 5-1. King struck out two batters to get through the rest of the inning.

Neither team was able to get a hit in the 5th inning and after Georgia Tech went hitless in the 6th inning, Brett Thomas came in for King. Thomas gave up a couple of singles to start the inning and after a ground out, UNC got a sac fly to make it a 6-1 game. Thomas then walked a batter, who stole third, and then Cam Jones came in to pitch and try to get Georgia Tech out of a jam.

That is not what happened though. Jones gave up a three-run home run and giving the Tar Heels a strong 9-1 lead. He got the last out of the inning, but Georgia Tech had put themselves in a big hole.

The offense for Georgia Tech got a single in the seventh inning, but nothing more. They went to the bottom of the inning still trailing by eight runs.

The game would remain 9-1 going to the ninth, where Georgia Tech would get one run to make the score 9-2, but that would be it. The Yellow Jackets would lose the game by seven runs and would be swept in their second ACC series.

Coming into the series on a nine-game winning streak and getting swept is tough, but North Carolina is one of the top teams in the ACC and I still like this Georgia Tech team going forward. Georgia Tech is now 16-7 and will face Kennesaw State on Tuesday. Their next ACC series will be against Boston College starting next Thursday.