Prior to Tuesday night’s game at Foley Field in Athens, Ga., Clemson was 28-1 when leading after six innings. The fifth-ranked Tigers are 28-2 now.

Clemson held a two-run lead on No. 20 Georgia heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, but was unable to hold it as the Bulldogs rallied to beat the Tigers 4-3 in 15 innings.

Georgia won the game when Rocco Reid hit Henry Hunter to load the bases with one out and then threw a wild pitch, allowing Paul Toetz to come home with the winning run.

The game lasted five hours and 30 minutes, as both teams combined to use 20 pitchers (10 each). There were also five reviews.

First pitch was at 7:03 p.m. ET on Tuesday, and Toetz crossed home plate with the winning run at 12:33 a.m. ET on Wednesday.

Tuesday’s game was the second time in the last five years Georgia and Clemson played a marathon-style baseball game. The two rivals played a record 20 innings in 2019, a 3-2 Georgia victory at Foley Field. It is still the longest game played in Clemson’s and Georgia’s baseball history.

The Bulldogs (30-10) came into Tuesday night’s game averaging 9.5 runs per game and hitting .318, yet Clemson pitching held them to just four hits through eight innings. Charlie Condon, who was hitting .483 with a nation-best 26 home runs, got his lone hit–an infield hit–in the 14th inning as he drew three walks (two times on purpose), struck out twice and grounded into a double play in the third inning.

Billy Barlow started the game for Clemson and went three innings before being pulled for Drew Titsworth in the fourth. Barlow gave up one run on one hit in his outing, and the run was unearned.

Titsworth, Reed Garris, Jacob McGovern and Lucas Mahlstedt combined to allow just one run over the next four innings to setup closer Austin Gordon, who suffered his first blown save in seven attempts this year.

Nick Clayton came on in relief in the 10th inning. He threw four scoreless innings, while not allowing a hit and just one walk in the 15 batters he faced. He had four strikeouts.

The Bulldogs had an opportunity to win the game in the 10th when they got a leadoff hit and walk to start the inning. However, Clayton got out of the jam by inducing a pop up, a strikeout and then getting a flyout to left field to end the threat.

Georgia’s pitching was just as impressive as Clemson’s. The Bulldogs used 10 pitchers and struck out 21 Clemson batters. The Tigers had 11 hits, but had just one hit after the ninth inning.

The Bulldogs held Clemson scoreless for 11 straight innings after falling behind 3-1 in the fourth.

Clemson (32-8) had a chance to go ahead in the top of the 14th inning. The Tigers had runners on first and second with one out, but Georgia reliever Chandler Marsh struck out Jacob Hinderleider and Blake Wright to end the inning.

Joe Allen gave up a hit and walk, as the Bulldogs had two on with no outs in the bottom of the 14th inning. However, the Clemson reliever got out of the jam with a strikeout and then induced a 6-4-3 double play to end the Georgia 14th.

Marsh, who earned the win on the mound, struck out Clemson in order in the top of the 15th inning. He finished the game with five consecutive strikeouts.

The Tigers grabbed a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning when Wright tripled to right field with two outs to score Hinderleider and Alden Mathes. It was Wright’s 51 and 52 RBIs of the season.

Cam Cannarella extended the lead to 3-1 when he led off the fourth with a solo home run to right field on a 2-0 pitch. It was the sophomore’s seventh round tripper of the year and his 36th RBI.

The Bulldogs found themselves up 1-0 after Toetz’s two-out hit to centerfield to plate Kolby Branch in the second inning.

Georgia cut the Clemson lead to 3-2 in the bottom the seventh after Corey Collins got a one-out single to right to score Dylan Goldstein.

The Bulldogs forced the game into extra innings when Collins blooped a single into right field, which easily scored pinch runner Trey King from third. However, Clemson was able to stay alive in the game as Mathes delivered a strike to catcher Jimmy Obertop at home as Condon tried to score the winning-run from second.

Gordon struck out Slate Alford to end the inning, which sent the game into extra innings.

WAS HE ROBBED?

Jarren Purify smashed a shot down the left field line in the second inning that appeared to be just fair for a home run. However, third base umpire Jeff Head called the ball foul. The call was upheld by replay, though everyone at Foley Field and those watching on ESPNU back home, including the announcers, felt Purify was robbed of a home run, which ultimately robbed Clemson of a win.

UP NEXT

The Tigers visit Louisville for a three-game set on Friday. First pitch in Game 1 is set for 6 p.m.

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!