GAME RECAP: #5 Georgia Tech Explodes for 17 Runs, Mercy Rules Northwestern 17-3 in Series Opener

ATLANTA, GA-

Russ Chandler Stadium was rocking Friday night as the No. 5 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets turned a slow start into a runaway 17-3 victory over Northwestern in just seven innings. The mercy rule ended the series opener early, sending the home crowd home happy and improving Tech to a scorching 9-1 on the young season. Northwestern dropped to 5-3.

The Wildcats jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-run homer from Ryan Kucherak. But that was the last time Northwestern would feel comfortable all night.

Georgia Tech answered immediately in the bottom half. Vahn Lackey singled home a run, and Will Baker followed with a sacrifice fly to tie it at 2-2. Then the floodgates opened.

The Yellow Jackets sent 12 batters to the plate in a seven-run second inning that put the game away. Caleb Daniel led it off with a solo homer to right. Drew Burress ripped an RBI double, Lackey smashed a two-run double down the left-field line, Baker added an RBI double of his own, and Ryan Zuckerman delivered an RBI single. Another run crossed after a pitching change, and just like that it was 9-2 Tech.

Jarren Advincula kept the party going in the third with a solo shot to make it 10-2. The fourth inning was another five-run barrage: Carson Kerce drove in one with a groundout, Alex Hernandez added an RBI single, Advincula crushed a two-run homer, and Lackey capped it with a solo blast. Score: 15-2.

Northwestern scratched across a lone run in the fifth on another Kucherak RBI double (he finished 2-for-4 with a homer, double, and three RBIs), but Tech tacked on two more in the bottom half on bases-loaded walks to Parker Brosius and Advincula, pushing the final tally to 17-3.

The Jackets pounded out 14 hits, including four home runs and six doubles. Nine different Tech hitters drove in at least one run.

On the mound, Tate McKee (2-0) earned the victory in a solid 4 1/3 innings of work, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out three. Caden Gaudette and Porter Buursema handled the rest cleanly, with Buursema striking out three in two scoreless innings.

Northwestern starter Sam Hliboki lasted just 1 2/3 innings, charged with nine runs on seven hits.

The Yellow Jackets will look to keep the momentum rolling Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. against the same Wildcats. First pitch both days on ACC Network Extra.