Yellow Jackets running out of time to earn an NCAA berth

On Georgia Tech’s way to its 27-22 record, there have been more than a few regrets.

The Yellow Jackets have two one-run losses to teams in the top 10 of the RPI (Clemson and North Carolina). They lost 9-6 at N.C. State (No. 19 in RPI) by giving up six runs in the eighth, five of them scored after there were two outs and none on.

They were swept by Georgia (No. 4) in three games in which they had chances despite hitting .194 in the series.

“It has been pretty frustrating,” pitcher/first baseman Tristin English said, “because pretty much we can pinpoint one play or one inning that’s kind of cost us most of our losses in the year. It’s not like we can go, ‘Man, I don’t know what happened.’ We know exactly what happened.”

It leaves the Jackets, with seven games remaining in the regular season, on the NCAA Tournament bubble with a lot of work to do. Tech begins the final stretch today with a three-game series at Virginia. Tech coach Danny Hall believes the Jackets need to win both of their final two series, against Virginia and then against Duke next weekend, as well as a Tuesday nonconference game against Southeast Missouri State. Tech may have to do more work in the ensuing ACC Tournament.

“Definitely, these next two weeks are going to be more, every game’s a playoff game,” second baseman Wade Bailey, who is hitting .361 in Tech’s past 17 games. “So every game matters just to have that résumé looking good enough for (NCAA) regionals because (we) definitely, definitely want to make that.”

After making 28 NCAA appearances in a 30-year span (1985-2014), the Jackets have missed the postseason two of the past three seasons. At 11-13 in ACC play, Tech is trying for its first winning season in league play since 2011.

“I’ve only had one regional appearance, my sophomore year, down at Florida,” said Bailey, a senior. “This is my last chance at it. I definitely want to try to make a run for this, end on a good note.”

Injuries have taken a bite out of the lineup this season. Coach Danny Hall has gotten a total of 96 at-bats from three would-be starters (Michael Guldberg, Kel Johnson and Carter Hall, the coach’s son) who together have hit .313 with six home runs in those plate appearances.