A two-out solo homerun in the bottom of the ninth inning by third baseman Justyn-Henry Malloy gave Georgia Tech a 6-5 victory over Clemson in ACC baseball on Saturday. Malloy’s eighth homerun of the season clinched the series for the Yellow Jackets and improved Tech’s overall record to 23-18. Georgia Tech remains hot on the heels of Pittsburgh in the Coastal Division race with a 17-12 conference mark. Meantime, the Tigers fall to 22-20 overall and 15-14 in league play.
Georgia Tech got the scoring started with a two-run homerun in the bottom of the second off the bat of first baseman John Anderson. After a walk and a fielder’s choice, ninth place hitter Cameron Turley doubled to left centerfield, giving the Jackets a 3-0 lead after two.
Bryce Teodosio led off the third inning with his sixth homerun of the season for the Tigers to slice the deficit to 3-1 after three.
Georgia Tech got that run back in the bottom of the fourth, before the Tigers were able to tie the game over the next two innings. Clemson recorded a run in the fifth on an RBI groundout by James Parker. Then in the sixth, the visitors pulled even on a ground rule double from Davis Sharpe and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Kier Meredith.
The two teams traded runs in the eighth inning setting the stage for the top of the ninth, when the Tigers had a chance to break a 5-5 tie. Adam Hackenberg drew a four pitch walk to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a bunt by Max Wagner. However, Sharpe struck out and Dylan Brewer lined out, ending Clemson’s hopes of grabbing the lead and paving the way for the Jackets to win it in the bottom of the frame.
Clemson starting pitcher Keyshawn Askew pitched well enough to keep the Tigers within striking distance. The Georgia native allowed four runs on seven hits in 6 & 1/3 innings of work. Askew struck out six as Tiger pitching fanned eleven Georgia Tech batters. Geoffrey Gilbert (3-5) ultimately took the loss for the Tigers. Meantime, the Yellow Jackets used four pitchers with Chance Huff tossing just two-thirds of an inning to record his first victory of the season.
Sunday’s series finale is set for 1pm.
