No. 6 Clemson takes opening series in ACC play
CLEMSON -- The Tigers keep on rolling.
No. 6 Clemson won its opening series in ACC play after defeating Georgia Tech 7-3 in game two of the series. It was game one of the Saturday double-header between the two teams.
Drew Wharton went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs to lead Clemson. Patrick Cromwell and Chris Williams both went 3-for-4 to give Clemson six of its ten hits in the game.
The Yellow Jackets struck first in the top of the 3rd with a Tristin English two-strike, two-out single to left-center scoring the game’s first run.
But starter Brooks Crawford hung tough throughout his outing. He gave up six hits in four innings but only gave up one run.
After Georgia Tech’s starter Connor Thomas retired six consecutive batters, Clemson got its bats going in the 4th inning. After back-to-back hits from Cromwell and Williams, Robert Jolly laid a bunt down forcing Thomas to make a tough throw to first that was off the mark. Cromwell scored on the error to tie the game.
Wharton then doubled down the left field line on the second pitch of his at-bat to break the 1-1 tie and score two runs. A Kyle Wilkie sacrifice fly ended scored Wharton to give the Tigers a 4-run 4th inning and a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Spencer Strider came in after Crawford and was dealing in his two innings of action. He threw five strikeouts in 2 ⅓ innings on 12 batters faced. In the 7th inning, two consecutive Georgia Tech singles put runners on the corners and the Tigers in a bit of a jam up three runs with only one out.
In came Carson Spiers, who had plenty of experience in high-pressure situations before. It was easy work for Spiers, who got Clemson out of the inning with a double play right after he came in.
But that wasn’t the only jam he got out of. In the 8th inning, Georgia Tech was threatening again after its first two batters reached base. The Yellow Jackets had runners on second and third with one out, but Spiers dug in. Baron Radcliffe came in to pinch-hit for Georgia Tech with two outs but struck out on three pitches ending the threat.
Georgia Tech left 12 runners on base all afternoon and was 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
Seth Beer added some insurance to Clemson’s lead with a solo home run which hit the batting cages in right field. It was his second home run in two days and his fifth on the season. Clemson strung together four hits in the inning after coming into the inning with six and added one more run after a Georgia Tech error.
Clemson would need the insurance after a Joey Bart 2-run home run cut Clemson’s lead to 7-3, but Spiers hung in and struck out the final batter to give Clemson the win.
The Tigers will go for the sweep of the series this afternoon if weather permits. Jake Higginbotham will get the start for Clemson. First pitch is TBA.