Tigers Fall To Yellow Jackets In Series Finale 5-3

April 22, 2001

Clemson, SC – Georgia Tech used a solid pitching effort from Kyle Bakker and 11 hits by its offense to take a 5-3 victory over Clemson Sunday afternoon at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Clemson drops to 28-15 overall and 10-5 in the ACC with the loss, its first of the series. Georgia Tech improved to 31-12 overall and 10-8 in the conference.

Bakker scattered seven hits over eight innings and gave up three runs, none of which were earned. The freshman improved his record to 3-0 this season.

The Yellow Jackets opened the scoring in the second inning after three straight singles by Jason Basil, Derik Goffena and Matthew Boggs. Clemson responded in the third inning when Casey Stone’s infield single scored Kyle Frank. The Tigers took a 2-1 lead later in the inning when Chad Coder stole second and an errant throw allowed Seth Miller to advance from third base to home.

Georgia Tech put up two runs of its own in the top of the fourth after Wes Rynders’ single scored Goffena and Boggs. In the bottom of the inning, Clemson’s Miller dropped a single into center field that scored Ryan Riley and knotted the score at three.

Tech pulled ahead in the fifth inning. Goffena hit a shot to left field that scored Bryan Prince and Matt Murton for a 5-3 lead. Meanwhile, Bakker continued to stymie the Tigers from the mound until the ninth inning, when Tech closer Jeff Watchko finished the game and earned his sixth save of the year.

Reliever Nick Glaser (4-2) got the loss for Clemson, who was led at the plate by Miller’s 2-3 performance. Tech’s Goffena led the way by going three for three with two RBIs and a run scored.

Clemson will take on Western Carolina Tuesday at 7:15 PM. The Tigers will then play South Carolina on Wednesday at 7:00 PM. Reserved tickets are still available and can be purchased online at www.clemsontigers.com or by calling the Clemson Athletic Ticket Office at 1-800-CLEMSON.