ATLANTA, Ga. – The No. 5/5 Clemson Tigers scored five runs in the final two innings to propel Clemson to a 8-4 victory at Georgia Tech to clinch the series. Following the win, Clemson improves to 31-1 overall and 8-0 in ACC action, while Georgia Tech drops to 16-14 overall and 2-6 in ACC play. The Tigers also extended their winning streak to 17 games.
Clemson tallied 11 hits, including four home runs, to down the Yellow Jackets. Graduate Caroline Jacobsen notched two home runs, her second game as a Tiger with two homers, while Valerie Cagle and Reedy Davenport contributed one each. Ally Miklesh led the Tigers at the plate going 3-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored, while Davenport brought in four RBIs.
The Tigers opened up scoring in the top of the second inning as Hyatt singled through the right side and was replaced by pinch runner Julia Bomhardt. Bomhardt stole second and advanced to third as Miklesh singled through the left side. The bottom of the lineup delivered as Davenport hit an RBI single to Georgia Tech’s third baseman to bring home Bomhardt.
The production continued in the top of the third as Cagle opened the inning with a home run hit to the opposite field for her 10th of the season. Jacobsen joined the home run action with a solo shot of her own out of dead center, her seventh of the season. The back-to-back home runs for Clemson extended its lead to 3-0 after three. Georgia Tech tied things in the bottom of the fifth inning plating three runs before the Clemson defense could get out of the inning.
The bottom of Clemson’s lineup once again delivered in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Miklesh put some spin on a hit that landed in fair territory down the left field line for a triple. Davenport squared up the first pitch of her at bat and drove it out of left field for a two-run bomb to give Clemson the 5-3 advantage. The Yellow Jackets responded with one of their own in the bottom half of the inning to make it 5-4 heading to the seventh.
With one out in the seventh, Jacobsen drove the second pitch of her at bat out of left field for her second homer of the night to add an insurance run for the Tigers. Clemson continued its momentum with Alia Logoleo drawing a walk and Arielle Oda singling through the left side. Hyatt delivered a perfectly placed bunt to advance the runners, and after review was ruled safe to load the bases. Miklesh and Davenport stepped up to the plate and shined, once again, as Miklesh notched a bases loaded RBI single to plate Logoleo, and Davenport picked up an RBI by bringing Oda home to make it 8-4 in favor of the Tigers.
Junior Millie Thompson started in the circle for the Tigers and pitched five innings with one strikeout. She earned the victory to improve to 10-0 on the year before being replaced by Regan Spencer in the bottom of the sixth. Spencer pitched the final two frames with one strikeout en route to earning her first save of 2023.
Up Next
The Tigers will look to sweep the series against the Yellow Jackets tomorrow, March 26, in the final matchup of the weekend. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. on ACCNX.
