Five Clemson hurlers combined for a 3-0 shutout of fifth-ranked Georgia at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, Tuesday. The Dawgs collected just three hits and were shut out for the first time this season.
Starter Talan Bell fanned five over 3.2 scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 0.93 before giving way to fellow southpaws Jacob McGovern (3-0) and TP Wentworth. The Bulldogs couldn’t do much with McGovern or Wentworth, scratching out just one hit against the pair of lefties. Wentworth yielded to Reed Garris, who retired all six batters he faced before Lucas Mahlstedt tossed a perfect ninth to pick up save no. 15.
Collin Priest, Dominic Listi and Cam Cannarella drove in the runs for Clemson. Priest’s first-inning double plated Listi with the first score. One inning later, Listi tripled to the gap to drive home Luke Gaffney. Cannarella capped the scoring with a two-out RBI double to the opposite field in the seventh. The three runs proved to be more than enough offense for a pitching staff that had Georgia flailing. The Bulldogs were 0-8 with runners in scoring position and 3-30 overall.
It was a statement victory for a Clemson (36-7) club that has put itself in position to capture one of the top national seeds. Head coach Erik Bakich compared the atmosphere to a Super Regional and said the Clemson fans created an “electric factory” with their energy. Mahlstedt’s save ties Nick Glaser for the school’s single-season record.
The Tigers next return to conference play with a trip to Raleigh, NC to face no. 25 NC State. Game 1 of the three-game series is scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m.