Georgia Tech scores six late runs, tops Oklahoma to reach regional final

Tech (50-9) will have a chance Sunday to clinch its first trip to an NCAA Super Regional since 2006. In the regional final it will face the winner of an elimination game between Oklahoma (33-22) and No. 3 seed The Citadel.

First pitch for the final is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN+.

Vahn Lackey, nicknamed “450 Vahn” by roommate and teammate Mason Patel, again showed in the third inning he has more than just 450 feet in his back pocket.

He smashed his 20th home run of the year on a hanging slider from Sooners starter Xander Mercurius. The ball exited his bat at 110 mph, traveled 468 feet and soared over the left-field scoreboard, much like the 456-foot blast he hit in Friday’s 22-5 win over Illinois Chicago.

“Anything that Vahn does every day never surprises me,” Tech starter Tate McKee said. “He’s the most unbelievable athlete I’ve ever seen.”

McKee dealt with self-inflicted trouble throughout his evening, offering up four walks and committing an error that allowed the game’s first run to cross. Still, the junior threw six frames of five-hit ball and limited the damage to just three runs.

“I’ve always dreamed about getting to pitch in the 1-0 game and I worked for this opportunity,” McKee said.

Also joining the barrel party was Parker Brosius. He continued his red-hot hitting with his eighth and ninth home runs since May 8. Before the heater, Brosius had just six career homers in 170 games.

After the Jackets scored three of their four runs in the seventh, a once-juiced crowd inside Mac Nease Baseball Park at Russ Chandler Stadium fizzled out, as the downpour prompted some to head for cover. Soon after, the tarp was rolled out and the lengthy pause ensued.

Still, the fans that remained made their presence known as play resumed — and so did the scoring from Tech’s prolific offense. Immediately following the restart came a sacrifice fly from Will Baker, putting one foot firmly in the regional final for the Jackets.