FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
Danny Hall looks to lead GT back to the postseason (Courtesy of GT Media Relations)
ATLANTA – Beginning with a season-opening series against Lipscomb, Georgia Tech’s baseball team will face six 2008 NCAA Tournament participants as part of the 2009 schedule announced Thursday by head coach Danny Hall.
Georgia Tech kicks off the 2009 campaign with a three-game series against Lipscomb, a team the Yellow Jackets met – and defeated – in the second round of the 2008 NCAA Athens Regional, February 20-22, at Russ Chandler Stadium.
Georgia Tech has 12 games on the 2009 slate against teams that advanced to last year’s College World Series.
“I think that anybody that watched the regional in Athens last year – when [Lipscomb] beat Georgia in the first game and, honestly, gave us everything that we could handle – knows that we were fortunate to win that game,” Hall said.
The Yellow Jackets open ACC play at home March 6 against Maryland and will also host Boston College (Mar. 13-15), North Carolina (Apr. 3-5), Virginia (Apr. 10-12) and Florida State (May 8-10) at Russ Chandler Stadium in 2009.
“North Carolina had great runs in the NCAA Tournament and the College World Series the last two years, Virginia is certainly one of the up-and-comers, not only in our conference but throughout the country in baseball, and Florida State is Florida State, and Mike Martin is one of the best coaches, probably ever in college baseball,” Hall said. “To have three conference series of that magnitude here at Russ Chandler Stadium is a great home slate in the ACC.”
Tech travels to Virginia Tech (Mar. 20-22), Miami (Mar. 27-29), Wake Forest (Apr. 17-19) and Clemson (Apr. 24-26) before concluding the season with a three-game series at Duke May 14-16. The Yellow Jackets will not meet NC State during the regular season due to ACC scheduling.
The Yellow Jackets fill midweek openings primarily with in-state opponents, including three games against College World Series runner-up Georgia. Tech hosts the Bulldogs Wednesday, March 25, and travels to Athens Tuesday, April 14. The two teams conclude the three-game series with the annual Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta contest at Turner Field Tuesday, May 12.
“Georgia is our arch rival – you can throw away all of the ACC games and throw away anybody that you might think has a great college baseball program,” Hall said. “That is a red-letter date on our schedule – any time that we play them we want to play well.”
Tech also adds a second SEC opponent during the 2009 season when it meets Tennessee, Wednesday, May 6, at AT&T Field, home of the minor league Chattanooga Lookouts in Chattanooga, Tenn.
“It will be fun to play in a pro park and in Chattanooga against a great opponent,” Hall added.
Due to scheduling issues with the Fenway Sports Group, the 2009 ACC Baseball Tournament was relocated to the Durham Bulls Park in Durham, N.C. Full tournament passes (all 13 games) are already on sale for $120 apiece, and may be purchased by calling 919.956.BULL or by clicking here. Individual tickets go on sale April 20. The tournament will begin Wednesday, May 20 and conclude with the championship game Sunday, May 24.
The 2009 NCAA Tournament will kick off May 30 with regional action, to be followed by super regionals (June 6-9) and the College World Series (June 13-23/24).
