Georgia Tech exploded out of the gate Tuesday night, delivering a dominant performance that set a new program record with a staggering 44-0 start, defeating Kennesaw State 10-7 at Mickey Dunn Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia.
The Yellow Jackets (37-7, 19-5 ACC) erupted for five runs in the first inning, breaking a recent habit of come-from-behind victories and carrying their early lead to seal a hard-fought win over the Owls (19-22, 8-13 CUSA). From the opening bat, Georgia Tech’s offense was relentless, with six of the first eight players recording hits and all ten players who came to the plate reaching base.
Juniors Drew Burress, Vahn Lackey, and Carson Kerce led the charge offensively, each tallying three hits. Burress blasted a critical three-run home run, breaking the tight scoreline and pushing the Jackets ahead 8-4 in the middle innings. Lackey’s clutch second double and Caleb Daniel’s bases-loaded walk helped maintain momentum, delivering Georgia Tech’s 25th double-digit scoring game of the season.
On the mound, relief pitcher Justin Shadek turned in a stellar 3-inning outing, striking out six batters while allowing just one hit and a single earned run, helping the Jackets hold firm late in the game. Closer Mason Patel took over in the ninth, retiring the side on just 16 pitches to earn his sixth save of the year and preserve the victory.
Historic Records and Dominance
This win enhances Georgia Tech’s record to 37-7, marking the best 44-game start in school history. The Jackets have been on fire this season, scoring 467 runs in these games—the highest total in program history and the best in the Power 4 conferences since 2011 under BBCOR bat regulations.
The team dominated at night, now boasting a 20-1 record in night games, and extended their surge with a 15-game winning streak in Georgia. Georgia Tech has outscored in-state opponents 95-35 this season and showcased offensive power that puts them on pace to shatter multiple program records including batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, and runs per game.
Standout Player Burress On Fire
Drew Burress continues to build his legacy as one of Tech’s finest, extending his hitting streak to seven games and delivering his sixth consecutive multi-hit game. Burress hit his ninth home run of the season, moving closer to the program’s all-time home run record and currently leading the ACC with 61 runs scored, underlining his integral role in Tech’s historic run.
Meanwhile, Jarren Advincula leads Division I with 79 hits this season, and Carson Kerce has excelled after moving into the leadoff spot, boasting 21 multi-hit games and tying Tech’s BBCOR-era single-season doubles record with 23.
Pitching Bolsters Winning Streak
Rising junior Carson Ballard delivered another strong start, tossing 23 innings this season with the Jackets undefeated (2-0) in his appearances. Senior Caden Spivey picked up the win after coming in during a high-pressure moment in the third inning, helped by Patel’s dominant closer performance to keep the pressure off the offense late.
Next Up: Xavier Series at Home
The Yellow Jackets will take a brief pause from ACC competition to face Xavier in a three-game home series at Mac Nease Baseball Park at Russ Chandler Stadium, starting Friday at 7 pm. Tech enters the series riding a 13-game home winning streak, the second longest active streak nationally, making them formidable favorites on their turf.
Georgia Tech’s historic season continues to unfold as they race toward conference supremacy and potential postseason success, proving themselves a national powerhouse for baseball fans across the country to watch right now.
