No extra motivation needed in GT, UGA rivalry

This rivalry didn’t need any extra juice.

But No. 1 Georgia and No. 3 Georgia Tech, who play at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Atlanta, have never met with both ranked so high.

Consider also that the Bulldogs ended the Yellow Jackets’ season last year, sweeping the last two games of the NCAA regionals by a combined 26-6.

“It stung that it was Georgia but it would have stung had it been any other team,” Tech right fielder Luke Murton said. “We have a new team, they have a new team, and we’ve both done very well to this point. It’s definitely in some of the guys’ minds, but I feel it’s a new opportunity for both teams to show what they can do.”

Bulldogs first baseman Rich Poythress played with two Tech players at Greenbrier High and two others in summer ball. He said he didn’t do any trash talking after last year’s NCAA win.

“I knew how many guys they had coming back,” Poythress said.

Georgia will start lefty Jason Leaver (2-0, 5.93), while Tech will use at least three pitchers on its designated “staff day.”

The forecast calls for a 70 percent chance of rain. Weather permitting, Poythress expects “a great environment and good baseball. There’s a lot of people that know each other, rivalries within the rivalry.”

The teams also will play April 14 at Georgia and May 12 at Turner Field.