ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia Tech's bats went cold as the Jackets were held to just three hits in a rough 9-0 loss to UNC Wilmington in the first game of the NCAA Athens Regional on Friday night at Foley Field.
Yellow Jackets’ starter RHP Brett Thomas (4-2) allowed a grand slam in the second inning – just his second home run allowed all season – but was otherwise sound on the mound as LHP Camron Hill and RHP Ben King combined for five shutout innings before UNC-Wilmington was able to break the game open with five runs in the eighth off an extended outing from King.
At the plate, however, Tech (31-24) struggled to get anything going as only Drew Burress, Bobby Zmarzlak and Payton Green recorded the lone hits on the night.
The Seahawks (40-19) got a fine start out of RHP RJ Sales (11-3), who pitched 7 1/3 shutout innings. Bryant Arendt hit the grand slam for UNCW.
Georgia Tech will now look to battle back out of the consolation bracket with a noon first pitch against Army on Saturday. The loser will be eliminated from the NCAA tournament.
