Atlanta, GA
Jackets Fall to Sooners in Game 6 of Atlanta Regional
THE FLATS – No. 2 Georgia Tech baseball (50-10) dropped its first game of the NCAA Atlanta Regional on Sunday night, falling 15-8 to Oklahoma. The Yellow Jackets saw four home runs in the outing and jumped out with the early lead, but the Sooners overcame the deficit to force game seven on Monday.
Georgia Tech plated its first two batters of the game as Carson Kerce drew a 4-0 leadoff walk and Drew Burress sent his at bat 397 feet deep to left field, putting Tech up 2-0 in the first and forcing Oklahoma to make a call to the bullpen early.
The Sooners tied the game at 2-2 off a two-run home run from Brendan Brock in the bottom of the second, but a five-spot from the Jackets in the fifth returned the lead to Tech. A bases loaded wild pitch scored Kerce and setup a two-run RBI single up the middle from Ryan Zuckerman for a 5-2 lead. Alex Hernandez found his fourth home run of the regional in the next at bat, clearing the bases and putting Tech in front, 8-2.
Jarren Advincula cushioned Tech’s lead with a sac fly in the fourth, scoring Kerce for a 9-2 lead, but Oklahoma erased its deficit and took the lead with an eight-run fourth inning for a 10-8 edge. The Sooners would add another five runs for the final score.
Georgia Tech and Oklahoma will meet in the rubbermatch on Monday for a spot in the NCAA Super Regional. First pitch is set for 3 pm and television designation will be announced soon.
QUICK HITS: TEAM
- GT will face Oklahoma again, tomorrow at 3 pm in a winner-take-all game seven of the Atlanta Regional.
- This is the 5th time in program history the Jackets will be playing in a 2-1 vs 2-1 game after starting the regional 2-0, GT is 2-2 in such games (wins in 1994 and 2005 / losses in 2008 and 2010).
- The Jackets fall to 50-10, the best 60-game record in program history, two games better than the previous record (48-12 – 1987).
- The Jackets will be looking to advance to the Super Regional round for the sixth time in program history and the first since 2006.
- GT is now 3-2 against the SEC this season with wins over Auburn, Georgia and Oklahoma.
- The Jackets are outscoring SEC opponents 46-35 this season.
- Tech has scored 655 runs this season, the most runs scored through 60 games in program history and the most scored by any Power 4 team through 60 games in the BBCOR era.
- GT’s 655 runs are the second-most in school history, seven behind the program record set back in 1987 (662). The Jackets are two runs away from setting a new NCAA record for runs in a single season in the BBCOR era – a record currently held by Tennessee (657 runs in 73 games in 2024).
- The Jackets hit two home runs today, bringing the regional total to 12 and the season total of 137 – 15 more than the previous program record set back in 2010.
- Tech has hit multiple home runs in all three regional games this season and 15 of their last 16 games dating back to April 28.
- GT is outscoring its opponents 655-297 this season. The plus-358 margin is the largest in Division I this season and the largest in program history.
- Tech’s offense is currently on pace to set program records in batting average (.357 – record is .347), on-base percentage (.468 – record is .434), slugging percentage (.640 – record is .575) and runs-per-game (10.9 – record is 10.3).
- The offense has scored eight or more runs in each of the last 14 games dating back to May 3.
- The Yellow Jackets are closing in on multiple NCAA records for a single season: two runs away from the BBCOR era record (Tennessee – 657 – 73 games in 2024), 19 hits away from the BBCOR era record (Vanderbilt – 770 – 71 games in 2019) and 18 doubles away from the BBCOR era record (Morehead St. / Virginia – 172 – 2015 / 2023) and 30 walks away from the BBCOR era record (Wake Forest – 424 – 66 games in 2023).
- Tech’s .357 average would be a new BBCOR era Power 4 record (NCAA record is .359 by Austin Peay in 2024).
- Tech’s .468 OBP would be a new BBCOR era Power 4 record (NCAA record is .469 by New Mexico State in 2019).
- Tech’s .640 slugging percentage would be a new BBCOR era Power 4 record (NCAA record is .661 by Austin Peay in 2024).
- GT pitching struck out 10 batters, marking the 26th game with at least 10 Ks this season.
QUICK HITS: THE BATS
- Junior Drew Burress extended his on-base streak to 23 games with a 3-for-5 showing. He hit a two-run home run to open the scoring in the first inning, his program record 59th career homer.
- Burress becomes the first Power conference player of the 21st century to deliver 40 extra base hits in three consecutive seasons (43 in 2024, 43 in 2025 and 40 in 2026). He is just the second Division I player to do so this century, also DJ Peterson (New Mexico) 2011-13.
- Buress has hit 15 home runs this season, becoming just the second Yellow Jacket in program history to deliver three consecutive 15 HR seasons, along with Tony Plagman (2008-10).
- He has now scored 231 runs in his career, the most of any active DI player and just one away from tying Darren Bragg (1988-91) for the fourth most in program history.
- Burress holds the GT BBCOR era records for the most runs (231), RBI (187), doubles (61), home runs (59) and total bases (499). He is one base away from becoming just the fourth Jacket to ever collect 500 total bases – also Andy Bruce (506: 1988-91), Tony Plagman (513: 2007-10) and Jason Varitek (610: 1991-94).
- His 187 RBI rank 12th all-time at Georgia Tech, seven shy of cracking the Top 10.
- Sophomore Alex Hernandez continued his exceptional regional, hitting a two-run home run as a part of Tech’s five-run third inning.
- It was his fourth HR of the regional and 13th of the season. Nearly two-thirds of his home runs this season (30.8 %) have come in the last three games of regional play.
- Hernandez has recorded 19 RBI in his last six games, producing at least one in all six postseason games to this point.
- He has now produced 21 RBI in six career NCAA tournament games – 3.5 per game.
- He is up to 57 RBI this season and 126 over his career: the fourth highest RBI total by an undergraduate in GT history behind only Burress (129), Matt Weiters (139) and Mark Teixeira (program record – 145).
- Junior Carson Kerce scored three runs in the leadoff spot, tying his season high for the fifth time. He has scored multiple runs in 18 games this season, the fifth most on the team.
- Junior Ryan Zuckerman delivered a pair of RBI today, taking over the team lead with 79 RBI this season, the 11th most in program history.
- Zuckerman (79) and Vahn Lackey (78) are inching closer to becoming just the third duo in GT history to drive in 80 RBI in the same season, currently only accomplished by Jason Basil (83) and Mark Teixeira (80) in 2000 and Riccardo Ingram (99) and Mike Fowler (87) in 1987.
- Lackey scored his team leading 85th run of the season tonight, his 85 runs scored are the 6th most in program history for a single season and the most recorded since Mark Teixeira set the program record (104) back in 2000.
- Junior Jarren Advincula extended his hitting streak to a career best 28 games, tied with Carlton Fleming (1990) for the 2nd longest in program history and the longest since Victor Menocal set the record (30) in 2002.
- He has delivered 108 hits this season, the fourth most in program history and the most since 2000 (Richard Lewis – 109).
- He has gotten a hit in 43 of his last 44 games dating back to March 10 and 56 of 60 games overall this season.
- His batting average now stands at .430, the highest in Power 4, the 2nd best in the nation and the 7th highest in program history. It’s the second highest batting average by a Yellow Jacket this century and the highest since Chandler Simpson hit .433 in 2022.
QUICK HITS: THE ARMS
- Sophomore Jackson Blakely made his 13th start of the season, pitching 3.0 innings before running into trouble in the fourth.
- This loss snapped a 10-game winning streak in games started by Blakely this season, bringing the teams record to 10-3.
- His ERA is now 3.36 over 64.1 innings of work with 69 strikeouts – all the 2nd best on the team.
- Freshman Cooper Underwood made his 13th appearance of the season and his seventh out of the bullpen. He would give up one earned run on a solo home run. This was only the second time he has allowed a run in his seven relief appearances.
- Senior Brett Barfield produced a scoreless fifth inning in his 23rd appearance of the season. That lowered his ERA to 4.70 for the season over 23.0 innings of work.
Up Next
Georgia Tech and Oklahoma will meet in the rubbermatch on Monday for a spot in the NCAA Super Regional. First pitch is set for 3 pm and television designation will be announced soon.
Full Steam Ahead
Full Steam Ahead is a $500 million fundraising initiative to achieve Georgia Tech athletics’ goal of competing for championships at the highest level in the next era of intercollegiate athletics. The initiative will fund transformative projects for Tech athletics, including renovations of Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field (the historic home of Georgia Tech football), the Zelnak Basketball Center (the practice and training facility for Tech basketball) and O’Keefe Gymnasium (the venerable home of Yellow Jackets volleyball), as well as additional projects and initiatives to further advance Georgia Tech athletics through program wide-operational support. All members of the Georgia Tech community are invited to visit atfund.org/FullSteamAhead for full details and renderings of the renovation projects, as well as to learn about opportunities to contribute online.
For the latest information on the Georgia Tech baseball team, follow us on X (@GTBaseball), Facebook, Instagram (@gt_baseball) or visit us at www.ramblinwreck.com.
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Runners, walkers and supporters filled Piedmont Park on Sunday for Pride Run ATL, a community-focused event celebrating LGBTQ+ pride, visibility and togetherness.
“I like to find causes to walk/jog for, not run just yet, but this is dear to my heart, I have friends, family, I have coworkers, just people in general who all should experience love,” said Koreena Atkins, who has been on a fitness journey in the last year.
Organizers say the run is designed to welcome participants of all levels — from competitive runners chasing a personal best to families and first-timers looking to show support and enjoy a morning in the park.
“This is basically a pride parade that happens to be 3.1 miles,” said Nick King, Pride Run ATL’s Director.
A morning of community and celebration Piedmont Park has long served as a gathering place for Atlanta’s biggest community events, and Pride Run ATL adds a fitness-forward kickoff to the day’s Pride energy.
“I have so many friends who identify in this community. Me as an ally, I just want to make sure I’m giving back any way I can,” said Johnathan Carey, with Union Fit Hub who led the warmup Sunday.
The largest pride run in the southeast was emceed by Atlanta News First’s very own Andy Pierrotti.
Shannon Sweat said he’s been running in this race for the last three years.
“Obviously show my pride, it’s a great month, it’s a great to have all these people out here, it’s a lot of fun,” said Sweat.
The event blends wellness with celebration, bringing people together for a shared start line and a shared message: everyone belongs.
King said this year’s theme is “Free To Be” and it’s all about being yourself.
All of the money raised goes towards LGBTQ+ organizations in the community, and King said this year, they’ve raised more money than ever before.
“Seeing people cross the finish line and it’s almost like this overwhelming sense of freedom to just be free to whoever they want to be,” said King.
Copyright 2026 WANF. All rights reserved.
For Onaje Henderson, co-owner of Zucot Gallery and Saturday’s keynote speaker, being a Black man comes down to one thing: showing up.
“It is doing things like this, showing up for one another, in community,” Henderson said, “but it’s also providing and looking out and taking care of people.”
June is Black Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, and the Atlanta Hawks and Kaiser Permanente brought that observance to life Saturday, gathering more than 90 men of color at State Farm Arena for the second annual “Real Talk, Real Strength: Men of Color Health Summit presented by Kaiser Permanente,” a partnership event featuring three panel discussions, a keynote address and additional programming throughout the day. The event is part of a broader three-part wellness series launched this year by the organizations, targeting different demographics across the Atlanta community.
Brandon Gardner, community relations manager for Kaiser Permanente, said the event reflects the organization’s commitment to whole-person health.
“If your mental health, your emotional health, your spiritual health is not intact, that kind of puts all that together with the physical health,” Gardner said. “Creating this space, providing a space where black men can be their authentic selves, means the world to me.”
The day’s programming centered on themes the organizers described as long-overlooked among men of color, including what Henderson called “the invisible weight that men carry.”
“My business became my identity, but that’s not who I am as a person,” Henderson said. “With the rate of suicides that are happening right now, the rate of brothers who are just unhappy in life, I also matter. I think that’s what we’re talking about today.”
Psychologist Dr. Curtis D. Jasper, a panelist, delivered one of the summit’s most candid moments, recounting a period between 2009 and 2013 during which he lost his mother to lung cancer, went through a divorce, and watched his financial life collapse.
“I literally had to surrender,” Jasper said. “I couldn’t achieve my way out. I couldn’t borrow any more money my way out. I couldn’t thug my way out. I couldn’t speak my way out, teach my way out, accumulate my way out.”
Jasper said two things kept him grounded during that period: going to the gym and changing his diet. Conrad Hall, a data analyst and University of West Georgia alumnus who attended to support a friend, said Jasper’s account put language to something he hadn’t fully considered before.
“A season can actually be years,” Hall said. “People don’t realize that. The most important thing to take away is how to maneuver through a season when it can be that long.”
Jasper told attendees that recovery, not the avoidance of failure, is the skill worth developing.
“Don’t avoid falling and taking L’s,” he said. “Just get good at recovery.”
According to the American Heart Association in a 2026 study, high blood pressure affects more than 62 percent of non-Hispanic Black men, one of the highest prevalence rates in the world, and the reality of that statistic was present in the room. Former NBA champion Josh Powell discussed how two decades of professional basketball have left a physical toll he continues to manage, while Dr. Aaron Cooper disclosed that he is currently navigating a high blood pressure diagnosis of his own.
“There are things that I’ve put my body through that are now starting to catch up to me,” Powell said, “so it’s just really being mindful and making sure that I’m doing the proper things.”
The summit is the third event in a series that began in May with “The Whole Women: Women of Color Wellness Experience,” which drew nearly 100 women to the Andrew Young and Family YMCA, followed by “The Wellness Huddle: A Youth Mental Wellness Summit,” which served nearly 70 middle school students. The Hawks and Kaiser Permanente launched their partnership in 2024 and surveyed more than 50 men of color ahead of Saturday’s event to shape the panel topics around what attendees actually wanted to discuss.
Sean Barham, a recruiter originally from Jamaica who was laid off last year, said a panelist’s framing of ego as a barrier to healing directly reflected his own experience.
“Dr. Jones said that ego is the killer, and it can hold you down and not bring you up,” Barham said. “You have to be acceptable to being vulnerable, and you can’t do it alone.”
Related
The Atlanta Braves and their offense kept rolling last night as they defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates. They will attempt to do it again as Spencer Strider takes on Braxton Ashcraft. The one area that was concerning is that Michael Harris was removed near the end of the game last night with it being in question if he will play today.
It looked like he was slated to play today, but we did not know until the lineup was officially announced.
The last two days Walt Weiss had a lineup that was almost the same but just flipped a few spots, so today it was interesting to see if he would take the same approach, or possibly have Harris DH to give him a little extra rest to be safe. In the case of Harris DHing or not starting at all, we could assume that Eli White would possibly get the nod for CF. In a bit of sad news, Harris was not getting the start today after all.
One thing is for certain, Mauricio Dubón needed to stay in the lineup with his clutch hitting. So far this season he is hitting .358/.414/.623 with runners in scoring position. Prior to seeing the lineup card we could assume that if Harris was the DH or not in the lineup at all, where Dubón plays would be in the air. CF was on the table with White struggling, and that is the route that Weiss went to allow Yastrzemski to get the start.
Austin Wynns will be making his first start as a Brave today which makes sense since Kim is getting the start at SS and Harris is out. The Braves will need the offensive boost.
The Pirates and their offense have been surprising to say the least. They have scored the fourth most runs in MLB. To put that in perspective, they have scored ten more runs than the fifth best Yankees. The offense has been heavily aided by offseason pickups Brandon Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn. Lowe has fifteen HRs and an OPS of .864 while O’Hearn has nine HRs and an OPS of .852.
Oneil Cruz is also having his best year offensively as well with fourteen HRs and an OPS of .818.
It was great to see the standing ovation for Marcell Ozuna yesterday, but he will not get the start this afternoon.
First pitch is at 4:10 EDT
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