Facing elimination, the Jackets played the Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman for the first time ever in their second game of the 2016 NCAA Baseball Tournament. The Wildcats had reached the regional as #4 seed by winning the MEAC Tournament, but had lost to #1 seed Florida on Friday night 9-3. Either team, to advance beyond the regional, would have to somehow win their next four games.
Tech, having held ace Brandon Gold (8-4, 2.38) for the second game in hopes of being in the winners’ bracket, now had to use him just to survive. Tech started senior Grant Wruble in right field, moving Brandt Stallings to center and replacing Ryan Peurifoy in the batting order.