Georgia Tech blasts seven home runs, beats UIC 22-5

ATLANTA — Georgia Tech wasted little time reminding everyone why it earned a national seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The second-seeded Yellow Jackets blasted a school-record seven home runs in an NCAA Tournament game Friday and rolled past UIC 22-5 in the opening round of the Atlanta Regional at Russ Chandler Stadium.

Georgia Tech (49-9) advances to Saturday’s winner’s bracket game against the winner of Friday night’s matchup between Oklahoma and The Citadel.

After falling behind 2-0 on a UIC home run in the second inning, the Yellow Jackets answered immediately and never looked back.

Sophomore Alex Hernandez led the offensive explosion, going 4-for-6 with three home runs, a double and nine RBIs. His nine RBIs tied a Georgia Tech single-game record and set a program postseason mark.

Hernandez’s first home run tied the game in the second inning before senior Parker Brosius followed two batters later with a go-ahead blast that gave the Yellow Jackets a 3-2 lead.

Georgia Tech then buried UIC with five runs in the third inning, nine more in the fourth and another five-run outburst in the sixth.

Vahn Lackey, Carson Kerce and Jarren Advincula also homered for the Yellow Jackets, who improved to 49-9 — the best 58-game start in program history.

Lackey finished with two hits and two RBIs, while Advincula went 3-for-5 with two doubles and a home run. Advincula extended his hitting streak to 26 games.

On the mound, Carson Ballard gave Georgia Tech four solid innings, allowing two runs while striking out six.

Jake Lankie earned the victory in relief after working the fifth and sixth innings.

Former Deerfield-Windsor standout Charlie Willcox made his NCAA Tournament debut in the seventh inning and delivered a scoreless frame for the Yellow Jackets. The freshman right-hander was one of four Georgia Tech pitchers making their first NCAA Tournament appearances.

Jamie Vicens followed with two strikeouts in the eighth inning, and Adam McKelvey closed out the victory with a scoreless ninth.

The Yellow Jackets finished with 22 runs and seven home runs, both among the most prolific offensive performances in NCAA Tournament history.

Georgia Tech entered the postseason as one of the nation’s most explosive offensive teams and showed exactly why Friday, piling up 22 runs while overwhelming UIC with power throughout the afternoon.

The victory keeps the Yellow Jackets in the winner’s bracket and two wins away from advancing to the Super Regional round.

Up Next

Georgia Tech advances to Saturday’s winner’s bracket and will play the winner of the Oklahoma vs. The Citadel game at 6 p.m.