Georgia Tech Baseball falls flat against Georgia at Truist Park

Under the lights at Truist Park, Georgia Tech had a golden chance to make a statement. Instead, the Yellow Jackets were outslugged, outpitched, and outmaneuvered in a 5-2 loss to No. 5 Georgia on Tuesday night—a missed opportunity in the latest chapter of Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate.

Brett Barfield’s night unraveled quickly. In just one-third of an inning, the right-hander surrendered two runs on two hits and two walks, forcing head coach Danny Hall to go to the bullpen early. Carson Ballard came in to clean up the mess, but the early deficit put the Jackets in a hole they never climbed out of. The quick hook for Barfield and a tone-setting first inning from Georgia underscored a game that got away early.

With the score tied 2-2 in the fourth, Georgia’s Devin Obee and Kolby Branch delivered back-to-back knockout blows—Obee with a solo homer and Branch with a two-run shot, giving the Bulldogs a 5-2 lead they wouldn’t relinquish. It was Branch’s fifth home run in five games and capped off Georgia’s 100th team homer of the season. Meanwhile, Tech’s offense couldn’t respond, going hitless from the fifth inning on and striking out nine times.

Coming off a sweep of Cal and sitting atop the ACC, Tuesday’s matchup was more than just a rivalry—it was a litmus test. Instead, Georgia Tech fell to 15-7 all-time in the Spring Classic series, which returned to an MLB stadium for the first time since 2019. Despite a home run from Will Baker and a late scoring chance in the 8th, the Jackets couldn’t deliver a big hit when it mattered most.

Tuesday’s loss stings—not just because it came against Georgia, but because of what it revealed. If Georgia Tech wants to compete on the national stage, it must find ways to finish strong, manage big moments, and avoid early collapses. With the postseason looming, the Jackets have time to regroup—but the clock is ticking.