April 29, 2011
CLEMSON, S.C. – Sophomore pitcher Dominic Leone held No. 9 Georgia Tech (30-13, 17-5 ACC) to just two hits over eight innings to lead 18th-ranked Clemson (28-14, 12-10 ACC) to a 4-2 win over the Yellow Jackets on Friday night at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
Leone tied a career-high with 10 strikeouts, and retired 13 of the first 14 Tech batters he faced. He improved to 3-1 on the season after combining with reliever Scott Weismann for the two-hitter. Weismann worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning of relief for his third save of the season.
Tech pitcher Mark Pope, who led the ACC in wins entering the game, fell for the just the season time this season after allowing three runs on 10 hits over six innings.
It was Pope’s shortest outing in his last eight starts, and tied for his shortest outing on the season.
Clemson outfielder Will Lamb was 2-for-3 and scored three of the Tiger’s four runs, including the go-ahead tally in the sixth inning.
Clemson drew first blood with a run scoring single to right field by shortstop Brad Miller in the first inning.
The Tigers collected three more hits in the second frame, and went up 2-0 with a 2-out chopper to left field by second baseman Jason Stolz that scored Lamb from second base. Lamb led off the inning with a single through the right side before advancing on a groundout.
Leone carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning, but Sophomore Sam Dove drew a one-out walk to give the Jackets their second runner of the game. Freshman catcher Zane Evans stepped up on the next at-bat, and belted a two-run shot to left field to tie the game at 2-2.
After allowing the two runs through the first two innings, Pope scattered just four hits over the next three.
Lamb would reach base to leadoff the sixth inning for the Tigers, as some miscommunication between Dove and shortstop Jacob Esch resulted in a double that dropped between the two players in left field. After stealing third, Lamb scored on a sac fly to right field by Stolz to give Clemson a 3-2 lead.
Clemson added another run in the eighth inning on a two-out squeeze bunt by Stolz that scored Lamb from third. Lamb was walked to start the inning and reached third on a two-base throwing error by Tech reliever Dusty Isaacs that went into the outfield. The run was unearned.
The series will continue at 1 p.m. on Saturday, with a televised game by Fox Sports South. Junior pitcher Jed Bradley will face Clemson’s Jonathan Meyer as the Jackets will look to even the series. -Ramblinwreck.com-
