April 17, 2010
ATLANTA – Brandon Cumpton scattered three runs over 7.0 innings, while Jeff Rowland drove in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh to give fifth-ranked Georgia Tech (30-5, 14-3 ACC) a 4-3 win and series clinch over No. 19 Clemson (23-13, 10-7 ACC) Saturday at Russ Chandler Stadium.
“It was a good day for us, a big win and another series win against a very good team,” head coach Danny Hall said. “I thought he [Brandon Cumpton] competed very well today. To limit them to the amount of runs that they got, it was a great start by him.”
Cumpton (6-0) won his sixth game of the season and remains undefeated on the year after holding the Tigers to three runs (two earned) Saturday. The Evans, Ga. native struck out six batters to help the Jackets reach the 30-win plateau for the 28th-straight year.
“It was a great bounce back for him [Cumpton] after his last start,” Hall added. “That is what I have seen out of him certainly in the fall and that is what I saw out of him in the preseason. He has great stuff, and was in command of it today.”
Rowland and senior Tony Plagman paced the offense with two hits apiece, while juniors Derek Dietrich and Thomas Nichols chipped in with huge solo home runs. Tech has now hit a home run in 14 consecutive games.
The Jackets scored the go-ahead run on a two-out hit for the second-consecutive game. On Saturday, Tech used three-straight singles with two outs in the seventh to take the victory.
Down 3-2, sophomore Jacob Esch tied the game for the Jackets with a two-out RBI single up the middle off of Clemson starter Scott Weismann that scored junior Chase Burnette from second.
Freshman Brandon Thomas kept the inning alive by looping a single to left field on the next at-bat, before Rowland dropped another into centerfield to score Esch for the go-ahead run and a 4-3 lead.
“We found a way to get it done,” head coach Danny Hall said. “Jacob Esch came up with the big two-out hit. If your team is getting two-out hits, you have a chance to win. He came up with a big one there.”
Freshman Buck Farmer went on to retire the side in the eighth, and senior Andrew Robinson closed out the game in the ninth for the victory. Robinson recorded his third save of the season as the bullpen was solid for the second game in a row.
Weismann fell to 3-2 on the year after allowing four runs on nine hits in 7.0 innings pitched. He struck out seven.
Tech will look to sweep the series Sunday with a 1 p.m. game at Russ Chandler Stadium.
The Jackets have reached their goal of raising $5,000 for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation cancer research. For every $250 raised, one player Tech will shave his head following the conclusion of Sunday’s game.
