April 30, 2005
CLEMSON, S.C. – Taylor Harbin’s two-out, two-run single capped a three-run ninth inning rally and lifted Clemson (28-17, 13-7 ACC) to a 6-5 win over No. 6 Georgia Tech (31-12, 17-6) on Saturday night at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
Trailing 5-2 after eight and a half innings, the Tigers scored three unearned runs off Tech closer Matt Wieters (1-2) in the bottom of the ninth inning. Travis Storrer singled to lead off the inning, but Wieters retired the next two hitters on flyouts.
The Yellow Jackets appeared to have the game won when Ben Hall popped up in front of the plate, but first baseman Whit Robbins and catcher Andy Hawranick collided and the ball dropped foul. Hall eventually singled, and a RBI single from Herman Demmink pulled Clemson to within 5-4. Brad Chalk then hit a ground ball to second baseman Mike Trapani who threw on to first base. First base umpire Frank Sylvester ruled Chalk safe, although television replays clearly showed that Chalk was out. Harbin then won the game with a two-run single to left field.
Stephen Clyne (2-0) earned the win in relief, recording the final out in the top of the ninth inning.
The ninth-inning rally washed out an outstanding effort from Tech starter Blake Wood, who worked a career-high eight innings and held Clemson to three runs.
The Yellow Jackets took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning, doing all the damage with two outs and no runners on base. Consecutive two-out singles from Steven Blackwood and Wieters, and a walk to Wes Hodges loaded the bases. Jeremy Slayden followed with a RBI single, and Jeff Kindel drove in a run with a bases loaded walk.
Tech had other opportunities to add to the lead, but the Yellow Jackets left seven runners on base through the first five innings and hit into inning-ending double plays in the second and fifth. Tech left 11 runners on base in the game.
A solo home run from Clemson’s Andy D’Alessio, his 10th of the year and second in the series, made the score 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning.
The Yellow Jackets answered in the sixth, scoring three times to take a 5-1 lead. Mike Trapani hit a two-run homer, his second of the year, while Tyler Greene singled, stole second base and scored on a two-out RBI single from Hodges.
Clemson clawed back into the game, scoring single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to pull within 5-3. Demmink singled and scored on Tyler Colvin’s RBI single in the sixth. The Tigers brought the tying run to the plate with one out in Kris Harvey, the ACC’s leading home run hitter, but Wood worked out of the jam by getting two fly balls to end the inning. Pinch-hitter Jesse Ferguson had a RBI double in the seventh to draw Clemson within two runs.
Georgia Tech and Clemson will conclude the three-game series on Sunday at 2 p.m.
