CLEMSON BASEBALL

Silent bats end Clemson's ACC dreams
Schmidt gave the Tigers what they needed, but it wasn't enough in the loss

Silent bats end Clemson's ACC dreams


by - Senior Writer -

GREENSBORO, NC – Silent bats ended Clemson’s ACC dreams Friday.

Needing a win to advance to Sunday’s ACC title game, Clemson mustered a measly four hits against two Georgia Tech pitchers in a frustrating 3-0 loss at NewBridge Bank Park in Greensboro, and now must await Monday’s NCAA Tournament selection to find out of the powers that be consider them post-season material.

The “bat dog” that retrieves the bats at the park had little trouble with Clemson’s silent bats, and Tech pitchers followed that cue in rendering the Tigers helpless at the plate. The lack of offense overshadowed a gutsy effort by starter Clemson starter Clate SchmidtClate Schmidt
So. RH Pitcher
#32 6-1, 190
Acworth, GA

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, who went a career-high 8 1/3 innings, giving up two runs while striking out six and walking one.

Dusty Isaacs and Sam Clay combined for the win as the Yellow Jackets (35-25) improved to 3-1 in the ACC Tourney, while the Tigers (36-23) fell to 2-1 in the tournament.

In his first start of the season, Isaacs (7-5) allowed just one hit, no runs and four walks with seven strikeouts in 5.0 innings pitched to earn the victory. Clay pitched the final 4.0 innings to record his eighth save of the year.

Schmidt pitched in and out of trouble through the first five innings – his defense wasn’t a lot of help – but ran into trouble in the fifth. The Yellow Jackets opened the inning with four straight hits and a run, but Schmidt pitched out of the jam trailing just 1-0.

Tiger bats, meanwhile, continued to be silent. Jon McGibbonJon McGibbon
Sr. 1st Base
#12 6-1, 220
Lindenhurst, NY

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opened the bottom of the fifth with a walk on four straight pitches, but instead of working the count Chris OkeyChris Okey
Fr. Catcher
#25 6-0, 180
Mount Dora, FL

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bunted into an out on the first pitch. Three pitches later, Tech was out of the inning with the lead still intact.

Schmidt finally tired in the ninth, allowing a Tech baserunner with one out, and he was relieved by Matt CampbellMatt Campbell
Sr. RH Pitcher
#36 5-11, 195
Alpharetta, GA

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. Campbell promptly surrendered a two-run homer to left that accounted for the final runs.

The Tigers attempted a rally in the ninth – Garrett BoulwareGarrett Boulware
Jr. Catcher
#30 6-1, 210
Anderson, SC

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singled with one out, and Jay BaumJay Baum
Jr. Infielder
#13 6-0, 190
Alpharetta, GA

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hit a soft liner that fell in front of the center fielder to put runners at first and second with one. Shane KennedyShane Kennedy
Sr. Infielder
#11 6-2, 190
Orlando, FL

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pinch hit for Jon McGibbon, and a passed ball moved both runners up a base. Kennedy struck out looking, however, and Chris Okey struck out swinging to end the game.

Despite the 2-1 record in the tournament, Clemson’s offense managed to score just eight runs in 27 innings, scoring in just four of those. Overall, the Tigers hit just .245 (24-for-98) in the tournament.

The Tigers were attempting to make their first championship game appearance since 2006, and a win over Tech would have likely solidified an NCAA bid. The NCAA Selection Show is Monday at noon on ESPNU. The Tigers' RPI fell to 50 with the loss.

Notes

* Dusty Isaacs and Sam Clay combined on a four-hit shutout and second baseman Mott

Hyde hit a two-run ninth-inning home run as fifth-seeded Georgia Tech kept their title

hopes alive with a 3-0 win over second-seeded Clemson ... with the loss, the Tigers are

eliminated from title game contention.

* With the win, Georgia Tech improved to 76-55 in ACC Tournament play while Clemson

dropped to 105-66.

* Wednesday’s game marked the 214th meeting between the two long time rivals ... the

Tigers still lead the series 108-103-3, including a 16-11 mark in ACC Tournament play.

The lower-seeded team has won seven of the first 10 ACC Tournament games.

* Georgia Tech’s Danny Hall (1,097) and Clemson’s Jack Leggett (1,300) have combined for

2,397 career wins.

* In its first four ACC Tournament games, Georgia Tech has yet to make an error and has

turned six double plays.

* Georgia Tech second baseman Mott Hyde, who leads all active NCAA players in career

games played (248), went 3-for-4 with his 21st career home run ... Hyde has hit safely in 15

of his last 19 games, including six games with two or more hits.

* With two hits in four at bats, Georgia Tech center fielder Daniel Spingola notched his

league-leading 23rd multi-hit game.

* Dusty Isaacs’ five scoreless innings lowered his season ERA to 1.92.

* Sam Clay picked up his eighth save of the season with four scoreless innings of relief.


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