Georgia Tech’s offense got off to a booming start in this one, scoring nine runs in the first inning as they sent 15 hitters to the plate. It was the second highest run total the Jackets have put up in a single inning this year and the highest total they’ve put up in a first inning. None other than Jarren Advincula, the Cal transfer returning to his old stomping grounds for the first time, got the Jackets on the board with a two-run double. He hit another double in the same inning to drive in another run to log his 18th multi-hit game of the season and to extend his hitting streak to 13 games. Five more Georgia Tech hitters drove in runs in the inning. Carson Kerce also doubled to re-take the nation lead with 17. Cal’s starter Otto Espinoza only lasted a third of an inning with seven runs charged to him, five of them earned on four hits and two walks. Espinoza came into the game with a 1.48 ERA across 24.1 innings pitched so it’s safe to say that the Jackets presented him his toughest challenge of the season. The Golden Bears ended up needing three pitchers to get through the first inning alone, with Ryan Spalliero relieving Espinoza, only recording one out before he was eventually removed for Trent Roach who closed the inning.
The Jackets offense was far from finished as they put up another eight runs between the third, fourth, and fifth inning. Jarren Advincula delivered yet another extra-base hit, this one a triple that scored two to bring his RBI total up to five on the night. It wasn’t until the fourth inning that Georgia Tech got the long ball going as Will Baker delivered his third home run of the season. Baker would homer again one inning later to cap off the first multi-home run performance of his career. The freshman outfielder Coleman Lewis also left the yard in the fifth inning with his first home run in his young college career. The offense finished with 17 total runs, tied for the fourth highest run total they’ve had thus far in 2026. They reached base 21 times, 11 times via hit and 10 times via walk. Drew Burress and Vahn Lackey both had a hit and two walks. Alex Hernandez didn’t record a hit but did draw three walks while Will Baker and Jarren Advincula of course led the way with three hits of their own.
Tate McKee made the start for the Jackets after coming off of a career-high 7.1 innings pitched with just one earned run allowed against NC State. He carried that momentum into this outing, delivering four scoreless innings on just three hits, one walk, and four strikeouts. Because the Jackets managed to put away Cal via run-rule, the bullpen only needed to cover three more innings, which was handled by Adam McKelvey in the fifth and Dimitri Angelakos in the sixth and seventh. McKelvey did issue two earned runs on two hits and two walks, but Angelakos followed with two scoreless frames on just one hit, one walk, and two strikeouts.
The Jackets will send Porter Buursema to the mound on Friday to make his second start of the season while Cal will send the ace of their staff, junior right-hander Oliver de la Torre to the mound to stop the bleeding for Cal. Through 35.1 innings across seven starts this year, de la Torre owns a 2.55 ERA.
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