In a display of unmistakable dominance and raw power, the No. 4 ranked Clemson Tigers roared past Georgia Tech with an 11-4 victory in the first game of a doubleheader at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Friday afternoon. The Tigers’ offensive machinery was in full swing right from the outset, setting the tone for what ended up being a showcase of their prowess at the plate and on the field.
Clemson, improved their season record to an impressive 35-9 and extended their lead in the ACC to 16-6, demonstrating why they are considered heavyweights in college baseball. The Yellow Jackets, on the other side, faced a setback, stumbling to 27-16 overall and 11-11 in ACC play, a bump on their road they’ll be eager to smooth out.
It was a game where stars aligned for Clemson, starting with Alden Mathes who fired up the scoreboard with a leadoff homer. This wasn’t just any home run; it was his eighth of the year, extending his hitting streak to a commendable 10 games. The hits kept coming as Blake Wright, two batters later, singled to stretch his hitting streak to 14 games and soon scored on Tristan Bissetta’s clutch two-out double.
Georgia Tech managed to scratch an unearned run in the top of the second inning, but the Tigers were far from done. The bottom of the inning saw Clemson unload five runs, highlighted by Cam Cannarella’s timely two-out, two-run single and Jack Crighton’s scorching two-out, two-run double.
The Yellow Jackets put two runs on the board in the top of the third inning on three hits. However, Clemson’s Jacob Hinderleider and Blake Wright had other plans. Hinderleider, extending his hitting streak to 10 games with a two-out single, set the stage for Wright. With a powerful swing, Wright launched a three-run homer into the crowd, his 17th of the year, ballooning Clemson’s lead to a commanding 10-3.
Matthew Ellis of Georgia Tech did manage to hit a solo homer in the top of the seventh inning to ignite a comeback. However, Hinderleider, seemingly unstoppable, punched back with a two-out, run-scoring single in the bottom half, sealing the deal for Clemson.
Several Tigers shined exceptionally bright in this contest. Hinderleider, going 3-5 with an RBI, extended his hitting streak to 10 games. Cam Cannarella delivered an impressive performance, going 2-for-5 at the plate with 2 RBIs, marking his fifth consecutive multi-hit game. Additionally, this game counts as one of the 20 multi-hit games he has achieved this season.
On the mound, reliever Lucas Mahlstedt (4-0) stepped up big time, pitching 4.2 innings, allowing one run on four hits, and striking out three to snag the win. Aeden Finateri (5-2), on the other hand, suffered the loss for Georgia Tech, after giving up seven runs over two innings pitched.
Looking Ahead
After the 18-hit game at Louisville, the Tigers started game one of the doubleheader with a 16-hit game vs Georgia Tech. This dominant offensive performance is a testament to the depth of the Clemson lineup.
With the series poised to continue, all eyes will be on these two teams as they clash again, approximately at 3:30 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
