By Trey McCurry.

ATLANTA – Georgia Tech rallied for three runs in the eighth and defeated Clemson 4-2 Friday night.

The Tigers led early, but the lead could have been bigger as Tyler Slaton was thrown out two times at home plate.

Matthew Crownover went 7.0 innings for the Tigers and only gave up five hits, two runs and one earned run.  He had nine strikeouts on 114 pitches.

Clemson took the lead in the top of the second.  Chris Okey walked before Chase Pinder reached on catcher’s interference.    Tyler Slaton grounded out advancing the runners to second and third.  Glenn Batson hit a long fly ball and Okey tagged to score.  The play at the plate beat him  to home but the catcher dropped the ball.  The Tigers led 1-0 after two.

In the top of the fifth Clemson plated another run.  Tyler Slaton singled up the middle.  Glenn Batson doubled and Slaton came around to score but was thrown out at the plate.  Andrew Cox singled to score Batson and the Tigers led 2-0.

Georgia Tech got on the board with one run in the bottom of the fifth.

In the eighth the Jackets took the lead.  Gonzalez reached on an error by Batson.  Vetzel came in to relieve Crownover.  Murray singled and then with one out the runners advanced on a wild pitch.  Smith singled to score Murray and Gonzalez.  After a walk a two-out single made it 4-2 Georgia Tech.

Clemson fell to 22-20 overall and 11-10 in the ACC with the loss.  The Tigers and Jackets play game two Saturday at 1 PM.