Jacob Hinderleider and Nolan Nawrocki had three hits apiece in helping lead No. 4 Clemson to an 11-4 series opening win over Georgia Tech in the first game of a doubleheader on Friday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
The Tigers feasted on Yellow Jackets’ pitching, pounding out 16 hits, as seven of Clemson’s nine starters had multi-hit games. Nine of the Tigers’ 11 runs came with two outs.
Starter Tristan Smith wouldn’t make it out of the third inning, allowing three runs on five hits while walking three, but Lucas Malhstedt would come on in relief to pick up the win (4-0) and limit Georgia Tech to just one run in 4.2 innings pitched.
The Tigers got on the board early, as leadoff hitter Alden Mathes hit a 1-0 pitch out to right. Mathes has now reached safely in 24 straight games. After Hinderleider grounded out to short, Blake Wright singled to left. Wright would come around to score on a two-out double by Tristan Bissetta to give Clemson an early 2-0 lead.
The Yellow Jackets would get a run back in the top of the second, as a miscommunication on a relay throw home allowed a runner to score from third.
The Tigers would get that run right back and more in the bottom half of the inning. After loading the bases, Nawrocki would come home on a wild pitch. Cam Cannarella then drove in two with a two out single to right and Jack Crighton followed that up with a 2-run double down the third base line that made it 7-1 Clemson.
Georgia Tech would cut into the lead in the top of the third. After a leadoff walk, the Yellow Jackets strung together three consecutive one out hits to make it 7-3 and end Smith’s day on the mound. Since returning from injury, Smith has failed to go more than three innings in any of his three starts.
Wright’s three-run bomb out to left with two outs in the bottom of the third would push the Tigers lead back out to 10-3. It was Wright’s team-leading 17th long ball of the season.
The score would remain that way until Tech got a solo home run in the top of the seventh to cut the Tigers’ lead to 10-4. In the bottom half of the inning, a two-out RBI single from Hinderleider would plate Nawrocki to make it 11-4.
With the win, Clemson moves to 35-9 overall and 16-6 in ACC play. Game 2 is scheduled to take place approximately one hour after the end of game one.
A limited number of signed footballs from Clemson’s 2022 class are still available. Get yours while supplies last! Visit Clemson Variety & Frame or purchase online!
