Tech eliminated at ACC tournament

Georgia Tech was eliminated from contention at the ACC baseball tournament Thursday, absorbing a 6-1 defeat to Florida State in Durham, N.C.

The Seminoles (36-19) scored two runs in the first, third and seventh, enough to ward off the Yellow Jackets, who managed just six hits against the FSU pitching trio of Cole Sands, Jim Voyles and Chase Haney. After beating Boston College 6-0 in the play-in game, the Jackets have scored one run in 18 innings in losses to Miami and Florida State.

The Jackets are 11-for-63 in the two games (.175) with one extra-base hit. After sending ace Brandon Gold to the mound Tuesday in the play-in game win over Boston College and lacking consistent pitching depth, the Jackets needed more from an offense that came into the tournament ranked 16th nationally in batting average (.312) and 17th in doubles per game (2.24).

“A little disappointed in what our offense has done the last two days,” coach Danny Hall said. “Got to feel like we pitched O.K. to where we could at least be in the games but just haven’t hit enough to stay competitive.”

Hall gave Zac Ryan the start. Ryan made it 3 2/3 innings and was tagged for four runs, all earned. It was Ryan’s third start of the season. Keyton Gibson and Bailey Combs pitched the rest of the way.

Tech (36-22) will finish pool play Friday at 7 p.m. against N.C. State. After that, the Jackets will await for their expected berth in the NCAA tournament, which will be announced Monday at noon. Hall said prior to the tournament that it would be the "crime of the century" if Tech did not make the field of 64. Tech was No. 19 in RPI after the loss, according to warrennolan.com.

“I think we are in great shape (for a bid) just because of our body of work,” Hall said.