Unranked by most outlets to start the season, Georgia Tech’s baseball team has stormed through the first weeks of the season with a perfect 11-0 record, its best start since 2006, the last year the Yellow Jacket reached the College World Series.
Tech swept Western Carolina at Russ Chandler Stadium this past weekend, sandwiching a 14-3 decision on Saturday between one-run victories on Friday and Sunday. Sunday, freshman starter Jonathan Hughes improved to 3-0 by going six innings with one earned run allowed, his first of the season. He allowed five hits but did not walk any batters, striking out one. In 18 innings, Hughes has walked six batters and has an opponent batting average of .219.
The schedule hasn’t been overpowering – all but one of Tech’s first 10 games have been against teams that ended last season with an RPI of 126 or above, and the other was against VCU, which was No. 68 – but the Jackets are just one of three Division I teams to remain unbeaten. In the past three seasons, Tech was 10-1, 7-4 and 8-3 after 11 games.
Tech has allowed 1.6 runs per game thus far, compared to 5 runs per game through 11 games last year and 3.5 per game in 2013. The Jackets moved up to No. 20 in Monday’s Baseball America poll.
The schedule ramps up considerably this week. Tech will play at Auburn Tuesday and begins ACC play at Florida State (No. 15 in Baseball America) this weekend.
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