Top-seed Georgia Tech not overlooking Georgia State

So while Hall says it's very nice to be playing at Russ Chandler Stadium, he wants his players to focus on Georgia State (39-20) first and not get caught up in anything else.

"We understand that the 64 best teams that are left are getting a chance to play," Hall said. "And everybody starts equal. It's up to the team that plays the best this weekend to advance to the next weekend.

"Our focus and preparation has been on being the best team standing after the weekend."

Senior Luke Murton, who Thursday was named a third-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball, will be playing in his third regional. He said the coaches have done a good job of stressing that Georgia State's seeding at No. 4 is meaningless. After all, the they split the season series.

"At this point, all we need to worry about doing is performing (Friday) night," Murton said. "That guy on the mound, when I'm hitting, he is going to try and beat me. He's going to try and get me out. Nothing really changes whether we're a one seed or they're a four seed."

GSU starter

Will Palmer will take the mound for the Panthers against Tech.

Palmer, a left-hander from Atlanta (Lakeside), went 5-5 with a 5.25 ERA this season.

"I don't know that a lefty against Georgia Tech is any advantage or disadvantage, but for us, Will Palmer is the right guy," GSU coach Greg Frady said.

Palmer pitched 1-2/3 innings against Tech in the March meeting, allowing one walk and striking out two. Tech, which features a lefty-heavy lineup, batted better than .300 against left-handers this season.

"Will's been great for us," GSU catcher Marc Mimeault said. "He won't blow it by you, but he'll find his corners. He's a really smart pitcher. He makes it lot easier on me."

Homers

Elon coach Mike Kennedy said his team doesn't try and hit home runs. They simply try to swing down and cut the ball in half, a la Fred McGriff on the Braves many years ago.

Elon's results suggest otherwise.

The Phoneix led the nation in home runs (131) this year. Elon (40-16) face Southern Miss (35-23) at 3 p.m. in the Atlanta regional's other Friday game.

Seven of Elon's hitters have at least 10 homers, led by Chase Austin's 22. By comparison, Tech has hit 104 home runs and only three players have more than 10.

The Phoenix is also second in the country scoring (10.4 per game) and runs (581).

"We just have a lot of older guys that have been in the lineup and played a lot of games," Kennedy said. "Everybody says we're little old Elon, but we've been in some big games. We played the Chapel Hills, the Clemsons, the Miamis of the world and competed against them."