The Birds head south to take on the Yellow Jackets in Atlanta starting today at 6pm. Tomorrow's game is also 6, with Sat scheduled for 1pm.
The Jackets are off to a 16-7 start with a 3-3 ACC record after getting swept at UNC last weekend (they swept NC State at home). There has been a lot of turnover this year with the Jackets from the team that the Birds took 2/3 of last year, and I'm surprised they've played as well as they have.
As you can guess, this is another potent ACC offense, lead by super star Fr. Drew Burress. He's already hit 14 HRs and is turning heads as a potential 1-1 pick in the '26 draft, despite his 5'9 180lb frame.. Wofford xfer Trey Yunger has been a great addition as a pesky hitter who doesn't really strike out. GA State Xfer Cam Jones has one of the more unique profiles you'll see, a RHH 1B with 14 steals, who moonlights as the teams closer as a LHP, he's off to a eye popping start too. So. Parker Brosius have developed after a quiet Fr year. NC State xfer Peyton Green, who has had some big series vs the Birds, has solidified the SS position, and fellow one time MLB Draftee /CT Native / Maryland xfer Bobby Zmarilak gives them another toolsy OF, while Fairfield xfer Cam Becchetti is off to a great start too. The lineup is potent, but right hand heavy too. The Park is a bit of a hitter's park, too, so i do expect some runs this series. CC Sabathia's son, Carsten is a rare LHH, but he's only had 15 ABs after projected to be a key contributor.
On the mound, The Jackets have what I would consider average ACC starters. Jr. RHP Logan McGuire was hurt most of last year, but has been a productive Friday Night SP with 26 Ks in 22 IP, but 13 walks and plenty of hard contact has limited most of his stars to 5 innings max. One time BC commit Aiden Finarti has been their Sat SP, an undersized RHP known for a good slider has 33 Ks in 28 innings. Mason Patel is another Ga State xfer, and another righty who's started most of the Sundays and is known for a good change up. So. LHP Cam Hill came to Tech w a lot of hype, and had a bad Fr year, before a stellar summer on the Cape. Stuff-wise he's prob their best pitcher, and expect him to pitch in a bulk role to shut down the offense. I think overall their pen is strong, and one of the better/deeper ones in the ACC, and that's even w former stud RP Terry Busse really struggling. RHPs Ben King and Brett Thomas have been strong, the aforementioned Jones has too. Another Fr Tate McKee is a 3/4s rhp with a explosives 93ish fastball, and Kevin Brown's son, Dawson has 16 Ks in 8ip. Lotta stuff in the pen, even if the results aren't spectacular.
Another tough ACC challenge, but gotta find a way to win a series on the road.