April 30, 2011
CLEMSON, S.C. – Junior Jed Bradley tossed his first career complete-game, allowing just one unearned run in No. 9 Georgia Tech’s 5-1 win over No. 18 Clemson Saturday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The Yellow Jackets (31-13, 18-5 ACC) evened the series with the Tigers (28-15, 12-11 ACC).
Bradley (5-2) scattered seven hits over the nine frames en route to his fifth win of the season. The left-hander retired 11 straight batters at one point in the game, and worked 1-2-3 innings in the second, third, fourth and the ninth.
“It was just a great game all-around,” Bradley said. “I was able to go out and save some bullpen arms for the game tomorrow so we can have everyone ready. I just wanted to go out and attack the strike zone, get a bunch of ground balls and I did. They were swinging [at my fastball] and couldn’t hit it, so I just kept throwing it.”
“Jed definitely set the tone,” head coach Danny Hall said. “I thought he was in control the whole game. I thought our guys at the plate were much better approach-wise and just had better at-bats up and down the lineup. Sam Dove had an awesome day.”
Sophomore left fielder Sam Dove had a career day of his own, going 5-for-5 at the plate. Dove’s 2-RBI single with two outs in the first inning capped a three-run frame and gave Tech an early cushion on Clemson starter Jonathan Meyer.
“Dove stepped up with the big hit in the first inning and that really quieted the crowd. It gave Jed a chance to relax. His swing is real short right now. He hit everything they threw [fastballs, breaking balls] and I think his approach is really good right now.”
Meyer (4-1) fell for the first time this season after allowing the three runs on four hits over just three innings.
Junior Jake Davies broke a scoreless tie in the first inning with a bases loaded sacrifice fly to right field before Dove’s single.
The Jackets took their largest lead of the game in the sixth inning at 4-0, on a 2-out run scoring single to left field by Matt Skole that brought home Brandon Thomas from third.
Thomas was 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored.
The Tigers got a run back in the bottom half of the frame on Will Lamb’s single to left field that scored Brad Miller. Miller’s run was unearned as he reached third on a throwing error by Matt Skole during the previous at bat.
The Jackets provided solid defense for Bradley late in the game, turning inning-ending double plays in both the seventh and the eighth inning.
The series will conclude on Sunday with a 1 p.m. first pitch.
