Georgia Tech, the No. 2 seed in the men’s NCAA baseball tournament, opened its Atlanta regional with a 22‑5 victory over UIC, turning the opening game into a showcase of power hitting that left the crowd roaring.
Explosive Fourth Inning
UIC struck first, taking a 2‑0 lead in the top of the first when Will Flanigan launched a home run, but the Yellow Jackets answered swiftly. Alex Hernandez’s three‑run shot tied the game, and Parker Brosius followed with a homer that put Georgia Tech ahead. The onslaught continued as Vahn Lackey, a likely top‑five pick in July’s MLB Draft, sent a ball soaring over the football practice facility, estimated at more than 456 feet from home plate.
The fourth inning proved decisive. Georgia Tech erupted for nine runs, highlighted by Hernandez’s grand slam that capped a sequence of seven home runs across the lineup. The team combined for 22 hits, seven homers and 22 runs, marking the third time in program history they have scored at least 20 runs in an NCAA tournament game.
Other contributors added depth to the onslaught. Jarren Advincula went 3‑for‑5 with his tenth home run of the season, while Drew Burress, the program’s single‑season home run leader, drew two walks. Jake Busson punctuated the night with a two‑run shot in the top of the eighth, but the damage had already been done.
Looking ahead, Georgia Tech will meet the winner of No. 2 Oklahoma versus No. 3 The Citadel, while UIC faces the loser in an elimination contest. The Yellow Jackets’ firepower now sets the stage for a potential showdown with one of the tournament’s top seeds.