RUSS CHANDLER STADIUM — #2 Georgia Tech baseball took down UIC 22-5 to start their 2026 NCAA Tournament journey in front of a sell out crowd at Russ Chandler Stadium. The Jackets move to 49-9 on the season and will play in the 1-0 vs. 1-0 game Saturday night (weather pending) against the winner of Oklahoma/The Citadel. Tech is hosting its first NCAA Regional since 2019.
Tech was favored by 9.5 runs accoring to Pear Ratings coming in to the game and more than delivered one of their most dominant games
of the season. Tech led by 10 runs in the fourth inning, one where Tech scored nine runs via home runs by Alex Hernandez (grand slam), Carson Kerce, and Jarren Advincula. The nine run 4h capped off a stretch where Tech scored three, five, and nine runs in consecutive innings to go up 17-2.
There is no mercy rule in the NCAA Baseball Tournament, but if there was, Tech would’ve won in seven innings with a 22-3 lead. Tech nearly hit .5o0 as a team going 22-48 from the plate, plus four walks on top of that and going 9-15 with runners in scoring position.
On the mound, Carson Ballard started for Tech, straying from the usual pattern of Tate McKee throwing the first game of a weekend. Ballard threw 4.0 innings with six strikeouts on just 59 pitches.
In the press conference, Tech head coach James Ramsey noted that because Ballard only went four innings, he would be available for a couple innings if needed on Sunday, and even more on Monday if the regional goes that far. At the moment, Tech’s pitching plan is in its best case scenario with Tate McKee and Jackson Blakely now essentially guaranteed to start Tech’s next two games.
Alex Hernandez hit Tech’s first 3-home run game of the season, finishing a solo home run short of the home run cycle. In the 7th inning, he flew out to right, missing his fourth homer by a couple feet at worst. He drove in nine runs, his career high.
Because of the early massive lead, Tech was able to preserve all of their important bullpen arms in this game, giving Jake Lankie, Charlie Willcox, Jamie Vicens, and Adam McKelvey innings.
Vahn Lackey only played the first four innings, coming out after hitting one of the most impressive home runs ever hit at Russ Chandler, a 456’ blast that landed more than 20 yards into the football lines in Rose Bowl Field.
Matchup Preview for The Citadel and Oklahoma
Best case scenario the rest of the weekend of course is a Citadel win to force Oklahoma into playing an extra game. With how Tech’s offense has played dating back to the Boston College series, whoever Tech plays is going to be a significant underdog no matter what.
Tate McKee likely will have the ball tomorrow night followed by Jackson Blakely in his traditional Sunday spot.
