Clemson Set to Host ‘Loaded’ Georgia Team In Midweek Action

CLEMSON — Clemson is getting set to play what is arguably its biggest midweek game of the year.

SEC rival Georgia will roll into town on Tuesday, giving fans at Doug Kingsmore Stadium the treat of a Top 10 matchup.

The Bulldogs (33-9, 10-8 SEC) have spent much of the season in the Top 5, but after getting swept at Vanderbilt over the weekend, Wes Johnson’s team dropped five spots to No. 10 in the latest D1 Baseball Rankings. Clemson moved up one place to No. 2 after taking two of three from Louisville.

“They are going to be awesome,” head coach Erik Bakich said. “Wes Johnson has excelled at all levels of baseball. No reason why that program can’t be at the top of college baseball. Same with how I feel about Clemson.”

The Dawgs beat the Tigers 4-3 last season in Athens in a 15-inning marathon, a testament to just how evenly matched the two teams were, and Bakich expects nothing different this time around.

“I think you are going to have two Omaha-caliber teams going at it,” Bakich said. “We will have our hands full on Tuesday. That’s for sure.”

While Georgia no longer has superstar Charlie Condon, that lineup is still plenty dangerous. The Bulldogs have hit 105 home runs this season, with four players having hit 10 or more. Robbie Burnett leads the team with 17.

Georgia has also been really strong on the mound, posting a team ERA of 4.97. Many of their midweek games have been treated as “bullpen days,” including last week’s 5-2 win over rival Georgia Tech. The Bulldogs used nine pitchers that day, with none going more than one inning.

Clemson comes in with a 24-5 record at DKS this season, while Georgia is just 6-7 on the road.

“They are loaded,” Bakich said. “Condon is obviously gone, the Golden Spikes winner, but they have plenty of other star power. Plenty of pitching. It’s going to be a big challenge.”

First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m. at DKS on Tuesday. The game will be televised on ESPNU.