#5 Georgia Tech Sweeps #16 Clemson With 11-3 Win Sunday

April 18, 2010

Atlanta, GA –

Jeff Rowland, Tony Plagman, and Jacob Esch totaled four hits apiece and #5 Georgia Tech scored in all eight innings in which it batted in its 11-3 win over #16 Clemson in front of 2,687 fans at Russ Chandler Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Yellow Jackets, who swept the series 3-0, improved to 31-5 overall and 15-3 in the ACC. The Tigers, who suffered their first three-game sweep since 2008, fell to 23-14 overall and 10-8 in ACC play.

Sophomore lefthander Jed Bradley (5-2) pitched 7.0 strong innings to earn the win. He allowed eight hits, three runs, and no walks with eight strikeouts. Jake Davies and Taylor Wood both pitched a hitless and scoreless inning in relief to close out the game.

Will Lamb (3-3), the first of eight Tiger pitchers, suffered the loss, as he yielded seven hits, six runs (five earned), and two walks with a career-high four strikeouts in 2.2 innings pitched.

The Yellow Jackets took the game’s first lead in the first inning. Rowland led off with a single up the middle and stole second when Plagman struck out for out #2. Cole Leonida then blooped a single to right field to score Rowland.

Kyle Parker hit the first pitch of the top of the second inning over the fence in right-center for a solo homer, his 14th long ball of the season and 40th of his career. He became the 10th Tiger in history to reach 40 career long balls. It was also the first home run allowed by Bradley in 2010. Two batters later, John Nester bounced a one-out single through the left side to extend his hitting streak to 10 games, but the Tigers were unable to take the lead.

In the bottom of the second inning, Thomas Nichols walked with one out, Jacob Esch singled to left field, and Brandon Thomas loaded the bases with a walk. Rowland then lined an 0-2 pitch down the right-field line to clear the bases. Two batters later, Plagman grounded an 0-2 pitch through the right side for a two-out single to score Rowland.

Addison Johnson hit the next pitch to shallow left field for a bloop single. Two batters later, Mike Freeman laced a single through the left side to score Stolz.

In the bottom of the third, Nichols hit a two-out single through the right side and Esch followed with an infield single. Thomas then singled on an 0-2 pitch to shortstop Brad Miller, whose throw to first was not in time. The throw was errant as well, allowing Nichols to score on the error.

Plagman hit a one-out single to center in the fourth inning, stole second, and scored on Matt Skole’s two-out triple down the right-field line.

Georgia Tech added another run to its lead in the fifth inning. Nichols led off with a double to right-center and went to third on Esch’s infield single on an 0-2 pitch. Thomas’ squeeze bunt plated Nichols.

Parker hit the first pitch of the top of the sixth inning down the left-field line for a double and moved to third on John Hinson’s flyout. Nester’s groundout then plated Parker.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Plagman led off with a double to center on an 0-2 pitch, then Leonida and Skole walked to load the bases. Chase Burnette drove Plagman home on a sacrifice fly.

Rowland hit a one-out single up the middle in the seventh and Derek Dietrich followed with a walk. Plagman then ripped a single through the right side to plate Rowland.

Esch hit a two-out, solo homer to right field in the eighth inning, his second long ball of the season. The home run extended Georgia Tech’s streak of hitting at least one home run to 15 games.

Georgia Tech outhit the Tigers 17-8 and walked six times. Rowland went 4-for-5 with a triple, three RBIs, and three runs, Plagman went 4-for-5 with a double, two RBIs, and two runs, and Esch went 4-for-5 with a homer and two runs. It was the first time since 1997 that three opponent batters totaled four hits in one game against Clemson. Esch also entered the series 6-for-59 (.102) in ACC games, but he went 7-for-12 (.583) in the series.

Clemson was led at the plate by Parker, who was 2-for-3 with a homer, double, two runs, and a hit-by-pitch. Nester and Johnson added two hits apiece, while Richie Shaffer returned to the lineup after missing the previous 17 games due to a hamstring injury.

The Tigers will return to action on Wednesday when they host USC Upstate at 6:30 PM.