Georgia Tech’s baseball team routed No. 5 Georgia 14-4 in the Spring Baseball Classic at Truist Park on Tuesday night, scoring in every inning except one and triggering the run rule in the fifth with a five-run burst that broke the game open.
The Yellow Jackets collected 14 hits, including two home runs and three doubles, to power the offense. Ryan Zuckerman and Will Baker each homered, with Zuckerman’s shot — his 15th of the spring — launching the big fifth inning. His blast measured 424 feet with an exit velocity of 108 mph and bat speed of 84 mph, underscoring the power surge that carried Tech through the lineup.
On the mound, starter Carson Ballard earned his fourth win, working four and a third innings with four strikeouts and four earned runs. Relievers Jake Lankie and Brett Barfield combined for four strikeouts and allowed just two hits over the final frames, holding Georgia to a single run after the early damage.
Georgia entered the game riding momentum from a 26-14 series win over No. 14 Arkansas, during which the Bulldogs hit a school-record nine home runs in the finale and led the nation with 113 homers on the season. Despite averaging 9.7 runs per game — third-best nationally — they managed only four hits and were held scoreless in six of nine innings.
The matchup marked the first time two top-five teams have met in the history of the Spring Classic, an annual charity event benefiting Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Georgia, as the visiting team, occupied the first-base dugout, and all tickets were general admission with gates opening at 5:30 p.m. ET.
Historically, Georgia holds a 15-7 edge in the all-time Spring Classic series, including a 3-1 record at Truist Park. Last year’s meeting saw the Bulldogs prevail 5-2 in front of 15,000 fans. Tech, meanwhile, entered the game leading the nation in runs per game at 10.7, a testament to their offensive consistency throughout the season.
Coaching continuity also played a subtle narrative role: Georgia’s Wes Johnson, in his tenure as head coach, has never lost to Tech, improving to 4-0 in the matchup despite Tuesday’s lopsided result.
Why did Georgia struggle offensively despite their season-long power?
Georgia’s offense, which leads the NCAA in home runs, was held to just four hits and failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities, managing only four runs despite entering the game averaging 9.7 per contest.
What does this result mean for the all-time Spring Classic series?
Georgia maintains a 15-7 lead in the all-time series, but Tech’s victory prevents the Bulldogs from extending their recent dominance at Truist Park, where they had won the previous two meetings.
