Clemson Splits Doubleheader with Georgia Tech to Win Series

Coach Erik Bakich

Game 1

The Clemson Tigers and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets faced off in games two and three of a three-game weekend set in Atlanta, Georgia. The Yellow Jackets took care of business in game one, run-ruling the Tigers, winning 18-2 in seven innings. Brady Jones picked up the win for Georgia Tech, his third of the year. Ethan Darden was charged with the loss, giving up nine runs in 3.2 innings. In game two, Clemson took a 4-3 lead late in the ninth inning to split the doubleheader and win the series. Caden Gaudette was tagged with the loss after allowing one unearned run in the ninth inning. 

Georgia Tech Takes the Lead

The Yellow Jackets got off to a hot start in this one, plating three runners in the bottom of the second frame. The inning started with a Vahn Lackey single and a Nathan Waugh fielder's choice to put a runner on first with one away for John Giesler. The Georgia native reached base on a walk to bring up the dangerous Kyle Lodise with two runners on a two away. Lodise came through for the Yellow Jackets, belting a three-run home run over the left field wall to give Georgia Tech a 3-0 lead heading into the third inning. 

10-Run Inning for Jackets Blows it Open

The Tigers will want to forget the bottom of the fourth inning as the Yellow Jackets put up a 10 spot against three different Tiger pitchers. The inning started with John Giesler and Parker Brosius reaching on singles, which brought Kyle Lodise to the plate. The Georgia Tech star reached the seats again as his second three-run homer of the day put the Yellow Jackets up by six. After Drew Buress and Caleb Daniel flew out and lined out, respectively, the next 11 Georgia Tech batters would reach base safely, with Alex Hernandez, Giesler and Brosius all going yard to put the Yellow Jackets up by 13 heading into the top of the fifth inning. 

Clemson Gets One, Georgia Tech Takes it Back

Although they needed much more than that, the Tigers were able to scrape one run back from the Yellow Jackets after their never-ending 10-run fourth inning. Josh Paino started the rally with a single and an error by Burress in center field to move Paino up to second base for Andrew Ciufo. The New York native came through, lacing an RBI single into left field to bring home Paino and make it a 13-1 ballgame. But, in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Yellow Jackets were able to fight back with a run of their own. After Carson Kerce, Vahn Lackey and Nathan Waugh all reached to load the bases, John Giesler's double play scored Kerce to give Georgia Tech a 14-1 lead. The Yellow Jackets would end up run-ruling the Tigers 18-2 in seven innings of play. 

Takeaways

• Ethan Darden - The left-hander's strong start to the season has seemingly disappeared as Darden has struggled to compete in ACC play. After putting up a 5.13 ERA last season, the Tigers were hoping for more from Darden, but the Junior has not been the same since his shaky start against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

• Kyle Lodise - The Yellow Jackets star, Kyle Lodise, was terrific for Georgia Tech again, going 4-for-5 with two home runs, a double, six RBI's and three runs scored. With those two deep balls, Lodise hit his 12th and 13th of the season, showcasing his importance to this Yellow Jacket team. 

Game 2

Clemson Strikes First

The Tigers were held to just four hits in game one of the doubleheader but were able to get timely hits and take an early lead in game two. The inning started with a loud double off the bat of Jarren Purify and a walk by Cam Cannarella to put runners on second and first for Luke Gaffney. The Purdue transfer kept his hot streak going, bringing home Purify on an RBI single to put Clemson up 1-0 early in game two. Clemson kept the hot start going as Collin Priest's solo home run in the top of the second put the Tigers up by two.

Georgia Tech Takes Advantage of Clemson Mistake

The Yellow Jackets got on the board for the first time in the bottom of the third inning after a mistake from BJ Bailey. Drew Burress led the inning off with a double to put a runner in scoring position with no one out. But Caleb Daniel's strikeout and Alex Hernandez's deep flyout made it unlikely for Georgia Tech to score until BJ Bailey balked to bring home Burress and give the Yellow Jackets their first runs of game two.

BJ Bailey Goes 6 ⅔ Innings

In his first start ever for Clemson, BJ Bailey did what Erik Bakich and the Tigers needed. After losing game 1 of this doubleheader 18-2, Clemson needed a strong start from the Graduate Senior, and Bailey did just that. Bailey went 6.2 innings, allowing just four hits, three walks and one earned run while striking out eight Georgia Tech batters. The only blemish to Bailey's night was the balk that allowed Burress to score in the bottom of the third inning. Erik Bakich pulled Bailey in the seventh inning for Nathan Dvorsky, who ended the inning after Jacob Jarrell threw out John Giesler trying to steal second base. 

Georgia Tech Takes the Lead in the Eighth

The Yellow Jackets wasted no time in the bottom of the eighth as their two-run inning gave them a 3-2 lead. The inning started with a Kyle Lodise walk, which led to Erik Bakich replacing Nathan Dvorsky with Reed Garris. The Graduate Senior had been terrific all year until Drew Burress roped a fastball over the left-field wall to put the Yellow Jackets up by one heading into the ninth inning. 

Clemson Takes the Lead Right Back

Down to their final three outs, the Tigers needed something to go their way if they were to avoid the doubleheader sweep, and Alex Hernandez's error started the rally. After Cam Cannarella reached on Hernandez's error, Luke Gaffney smoked a base hit the other way to put runners on the corners with no one out. Jacob Jarrell'sJarrell's walk loaded the bases for the Tigers and gave Collin Priest a chance to be the hero. The transfer from Michigan came through as his hit by pitch tied the game and gave Andrew Ciufo an opportunity to take the lead with the bases juiced and two away. The New York native's infield single gave Clemson a 4-3 lead, and Reed Garris' shutout ninth inning helped the Tigers win the series and split the doubleheader.

Takeaways

• BJ Bailey - The Graduate Senior showed precisely why he should be the Sunday starter for the Tigers for the rest of the year. The experiment of pitching Justin LeGuernic on Sundays has failed so far this season, and there is no better replacement than BJ Bailey. 

• Clutch Hitting - Although the bats were silent for most of today, only scoring six runs in 18 innings of baseball, the Tigers came through when it mattered most. When down to their final outs, Collin Priest took a fastball off the shoulder to tie the game at three, and Andrew Ciufo hustled out an infield single to give Clemson a much-needed series win and doubleheader split. 

• Up Next: The Clemson Tigers take on the Georgia Southern Eagles in North Augusta, South Carolina, on Tuesday, April 1.