The Virginia Cavaliers entered Friday's game against Georgia Tech with a great opportunity to get the inside track to play in the ACC championship. For two and-a-half innings, things appeared to be going UVA's as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Then the bottom of the third happened, so did the bottom of the fourth. When all was said and done, Georgia Tech won their game 17-5 in seven innings with the 10-run mercy rule in effect. The loss eliminated the Cavaliers from championship contention in the ACC tournament.
The Cavaliers took a 3-0 lead on the Yellow Jackets thanks to an RBI single by center fielder Brandon Downes and a sacrifice bunt RBI by second basemen Keith Weman in the top of the second and an RBI single by rightfielder Colin Harrington.
But in the bottom of the third inning, the Yellow Jackets shelled UVA starting pitcher Scott Silverstein and reliever Nick Howard. Silverstein only got one out in the bottom of the third, that was on a sacrifice bunt by Georgia Tech third baseman Sam Dove. Things went no better for Howard as he allowed the other two runs in the bottom of the third and all four runs in the bottom of the fourth as the Yellow Jackets took a 10-3 lead.
The Yellow Jackets finished the game in the bottom of the seventh inning with a three-run home run by first baseman Jake Davies to close the scoring at 17-5.
Georgia Tech now has the inside track to clinch Pool A and a spot in the ACC championship game if Florida State defeats Clemson in the second game of the day.
Virginia closes out their pool play on Saturday against Florida State at 3 p.m.
For more on the 2012 ACC Baseball Tournament, be sure to follow this StoryStream here at SB Nation DC. For more on the Virginia Cavaliers, check out Streaking The Lawn, SB Nation's UVA blog.