April 27, 2003
CLEMSON, S.C. – Brad McCann went 3-for-4 with four RBI and five pitchers combined on a four-hitter to lead 20th-ranked Clemson (31-13, 8-7 ACC) to an 11-3 win over No. 4 Georgia Tech (32-11, 11-4) on Sunday afternoon at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The win completed the Tigers’ three-game sweep of the Yellow Jackets, and Tech dropped an Atlantic Coast Conference series for the first time since April, 2002.
Now 11-4 in ACC play, the Yellow Jackets dropped into a tie for first place in the conference standings with Florida State (11-4). The Yellow Jackets and Seminoles, who have a showdown next week in Atlanta, are just percentage points ahead of third-place NC State (13-5).
Clemson starter Steven Jackson (6-2) earned the win, working 6.1 innings and allowing three runs. The right-hander allowed four hits and four walks and struck out three batters. Relievers Robert Rohrbaugh, Paul Harrelson, Jeff Hahn and Pat Clayton teamed to shut the Yellow Jackets out over the final 2.2 innings.
The Tigers took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when McCann singled and scored on Roberto Valiente’s sacrifice fly and David Slevin singled and scored on Steve Pyzik’s two-out RBI single up the middle.
Clemson extended the lead to 4-0 in the fifth inning when McCann looped a two-out, two run double just over the head of Tech first baseman Clifton Remole to drive in Pyzik and Russell Triplett.
Meanwhile, Tech’s offense was being held in check by Jackson, who allowed just two hits and six total base runners through the first six innings. The Yellow Jackets finally broke through in the top of the seventh inning to cut the lead to 4-3. Tyler Greene walked and Jake Hall singled with one out before Steven Blackwood came off the bench for a pinch hit, three-run homer to right field, his third of the season.
Clemson answered immediately in the bottom of the inning with four runs to retake control of the game, 8-3. The Tigers did all the damage with two outs, including four straight hits from Michael Johnson, McCann, Kyle Frank and David Slevin. Three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, including RBI singles from Frank and Zane Green, made the score 11-3.
Tech starter Micah Owings (6-2) took the loss, allowing seven earned runs in seven innings.
After taking a week off for final exams, Georgia Tech will return to action next weekend as the Yellow Jackets host No. 1 Florida State for a three game Atlantic Coast Conference series at Russ Chandler Stadium. The series begins on Friday at 7 p.m., and continues on Saturday at 1 p.m. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Friday’s game will be televised by Fox Sports Net South, while Saturday’s game will be carried on the ACC Regional Network (Fox Sports Net South, Comcast and Sunshine). Live statistics can be found on the internet at www.ramblinwreck.com.
