#10 Georgia Tech Downs #5 Clemson 12-3 Saturday to Even Series

April 15, 2006

Atlanta, GA –

Wes Hodges hit a three-run double and three-run homer in #10 Georgia Tech’s 12-3 win over #5 Clemson in front of 3,192 fans at Russ Chandler Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Yellow Jackets evened the series with the win. Georgia Tech improved to 27-9 overall, 9-8 in ACC play. Clemson fell to 27-9 overall, 10-4 in the ACC.

Several Tiger streaks were snapped on Saturday. Clemson’s 10-game ACC winning streak and six-game road winning streak came to an end. Andy D’Alessio went 0-for-4 to snap his team-season-long 13-game hitting streak as well.

Hodges’ six RBIs were a career-high, while Steven Blackwood added three hits. After the first two innings, in which Georgia Tech scored one run and left five runners on base, the Yellow Jackets scored 11 runs while leaving just two runners on base in their final six innings. Brad Chalk had a team-high three hits for the Tigers, who had seven hits in the game.

For the second day in a row, Georgia Tech got outstanding relief pitching from a lefthander. This time it was Tim Ladd (3-2), who picked up the win by allowing just three hits and no runs in 5.2 innings pitched in relief of starter Jared Hyatt. Tim Gustafson and Matt Wieters each pitched a scoreless inning to close out the win. Tiger starter Jason Berken (4-3) suffered the loss, as he yielded five hits, four runs, and four walks with three strikeouts in 4.0 innings.

The Yellow Jackets jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Blackwood hit a one-out single up the middle and went to second on Wieters’ walk. Jeff Kindel followed with a single to right-center to plate Blackwood.

Clemson came right back in the second inning and took the lead. Tyler Colvin led off with a single on a swinging bunt. After D’Alessio lined out, Marquez Smith and Travis Storrer drew back-to-back walks. Stan Widmann followed with a two-run single through the left side to score Colvin and Smith. Adrian Casanova then singled up the middle to score Storrer, giving the Tigers a 3-1 lead.

Danny Payne led off the fifth inning with a line-drive, solo home run to right-center, his ninth of the season. Blackwood followed with a single to center and Wieters walked. Kindel reached on a fielder’s choice and Alex Martin hit Whit Robbins to load the bases with one out. Wes Hodges followed with a bases-clearing double just out of the reach of a diving Chalk in left-center to give Georgia Tech a 5-3 lead.

Georgia Tech added to its lead in the sixth inning when Payne scored on a passed ball with two outs. Earlier, he walked, stole second, and went to third on a groundout.

The Yellow Jackets added six insurance runs in the eighth inning after the first two batters were retired. Payne and Blackwood hit singles, then Wieters plated both on a line-drive double to right-center. Jeff Kindel was hit by a pitch, then Robbins followed with a line-drive single off the glove of first-baseman Andy D’Alessio to score Wieters. Hodges then hit an opposite-field, three-run homer to right-center, his eighth of the season.

Clemson and Georgia Tech will play game three of the series on Sunday at 1:00 PM. The game will be televised live by FSN South along with other regional sports networks.