(Clemson University Athletics Communications)
Clemson shortstop James Parker found himself down 0-2 in the count with two teammates on base, two outs in the inning and his team down a run in the bottom of the eighth. With all the pressure on, Parker drove the next pitch, a breaking ball from Virginia Tech southpaw Noah Johnson, 379 feet and over the wall in right center at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Geoffrey Gilbert shut down the Hokies in the ninth for a 4-2 series clinching win for Clemson (8-9, 3-6). Parker homered in each game of the series and is now hitting .343 with five homers and 13 RBI’s on the season.
It’s the first series win over a ranked ACC opponent since the Tigers took 2 of 3 from Louisville in 2019. It’s also Clemson’s seventh straight series win over Virginia Tech.
Tigers southpaw Keyshawn Askew was effective in his first start of the season, striking out a career-high seven Hokies and giving just an unearned run in four innings of work. Gilbert (1-1, 1.15) was the beneficiary of Parker’s heroics, picking up the win in relief.
Clemson will next face Georgia Southern in a neutral site game at SRP Park in North Augusta. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Tuesday.
