April 26, 2003
CLEMSON, S.C. – Brad McCann’s two-out, three run homer in the bottom of the 10th inning lifted 20th-ranked Clemson (29-13, 6-7 ACC) to a 9-7 victory over No. 4 Georgia Tech (32-8) on Saturday afternoon in the resumption of a game suspended on Friday night.
After being halted at 9:50 p.m. on Friday night due to rain and lightning, the game was resumed at 5:16 p.m. on Saturday afternoon with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning and the score tied, 6-6. Neither team scored until Tech broke through in the top of the 10th inning to take a 7-6 lead. After the first two batters in the inning were retired on strikeouts, Eric Patterson laced a two-out single to center field. Patterson stole second base on the first pitch to the next hitter, Brandon Boggs, before coming around to score on Boggs’ RBI single to right field.
The Tigers rallied in the bottom of the 10th inning after Tech reliever Brian Burks (2-1) quickly retired the first two batters of the inning. Russell Triplett legged out an infield single to third base and Michael Johnson drew a walk before McCann followed with his ninth home run of the season over the right center field fence.
Clemson’s Paul Harrelson (3-1) earned the win in relief despite allowing the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th inning. Burks took the loss, surrendering three runs in three innings of relief work.
On Friday night, the Tigers struck early for three runs in the first inning, snapping Tech starter Kyle Bakker’s streak of 15 scoreless innings. Johnson belted a two-run homer over the right field wall, his ninth of the season, and Jeff Hourigan added a RBI double down the left field line after McCann reached on an error from Tech third baseman Mike Nickeas.
Clemson stretched the lead to 4-0 with an unearned run in the fourth inning, as Roberto Valiente walked and scored on a throwing error from Nickeas.
Tech busted through for six runs in the top of the fifth inning, highlighted by Micah Owings’ grand slam and team-leading 14th home run of the season. The Yellow Jackets, who were aided by two Clemson errors and a wild pitch, sent 10 batters to the plate and jumped to a 6-4 lead. Boggs led off the inning and reached when right fielder Ryan Hub dropped a short fly ball and scored on a wild pitch. Tech loaded the bases with a single from Matt Murton and walks to Nickeas and Clifton Remole before Owings cleared the bases with his grand slam over the left field wall. The Yellow Jackets scored their final run when Tyler Greene legged out a bunt single and moved to second on third baseman Brad McCann’s throwing error before scoring on Eric Patterson’s two-out RBI single up the middle.
A two-run homer from Clemson’s Russell Triplett, his fifth of the season, tied the score at 6-6 in the bottom of the sixth inning before the game was halted with one out in the bottom of the eighth due to rain and lightning.
Neither starting pitcher figured in the decision despite both entering the game with identical 7-0 records. Tech’s Kyle Bakker allowed six runs, three earned, in 6.2 innings, while Clemson’s Tyler Lumsden allowed six runs, four earned, in five innings.
Georgia Tech and Clemson will continue the three-game series on Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
