April 27, 2007
CLEMSON, S.C.– – Doug Hogan’s walkoff home run to lead off the bottom of the 11th inning gave Clemson (28-14, 12-7 ACC) a 3-2 victory over Georgia Tech (26-16, 13-8 ACC) Friday night in the series opener at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
Hogan led the Tigers with two hits on the night, but also struck out three times against the Yellow Jackets’ pitching. Tech’s Wally Crancer led all hitters with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate.
Michael Fisher’s RBI double in the top of the 10th inning broke a scoreless tie, and the Yellow Jacket shortstop advanced to third on a passed ball before scoring on an RBI single by Crancer to give Georgia Tech a 2-0 lead.
Georgia Tech reliever Brad Rulon struck out the first two Clemson batters in the 10th inning before running into trouble. Pinch hitter Alex Lee reached on a two-out single to left field and advanced to second on a wild pitch before moving to third when D.J. Mitchell reached on a wild pitch after striking out. Wilson Boyd’s RBI single plated Lee and moved Mitchell to third before Mitchell scored the tying run on a passed ball by catcher Nick Scherer. After Taylor Harbin reached on an infield single, Andy D’Alessio was intentionally walked to load the bases, but reliever Matt Wieters forced Marquez Smith to groundout to end the scoring threat.
Alan Farina (3-1) came on to pitch in the 11th for the Tigers and retired the Yellow Jackets in order to pick up his third win of the season, while Wieters fell to 1-3 on the year after giving up the home run to Hogan.
J.D. Burgess became the first runner for either team to get past second base when he reached on a three-base throwing error by Yellow Jacket third baseman Brad Feltes in the bottom of the eighth inning, but Jared Hyatt forced a groundout by Mitchell and Danny Payne got Wilson Boyd to groundout to get out of the jam.
David Duncan earned a no-decision for the third-straight week despite another solid outing, as he held the Tigers scoreless on just four hits while striking out nine. In his last three starts, the Yellow Jacket sophomore has held opponents to just two runs on 12 hits while striking out 23 (over a span of 23 innings).
Clemson starter Daniel Moskos tossed a career-high 6.1 innings, holding the Jackets scoreless while striking out a career-high eight batters, but did not figure into the decision despite holding the Jackets to just five hits and two walks while hitting a batter.
The two teams began the 10th inning in a scoreless tie, which is believed to be the first time since May 2, 1966, when the Jackets defeated Mercer, 3-0, in 12 innings, that the feat has occurred in Georgia Tech history. The only other time the Jackets are believed to have finished nine innings in a scoreless tie was when the Jackets tied Milligan, 0-0, on March 31, 1970.
The Jackets and Tigers continue the series Saturday at 7 p.m. with RHP Eddie Burns (3-0, 2.98 ERA) squaring off against Clemson’s RHP David Kopp (4-2, 3.32). The game can be followed on ACC Select (gatech.playonsports.tv) and WREK-Radio (91.1 FM/www.wrek.org), while live stats will be available at www.ramblinwreck.com.
