CLEMSON — Georgia Tech’s Jayden Gailey smacked a two-run home run to centerfield with two outs in the sixth inning, lifting the Yellow Jackets to a 4-3 victory over No. 25 Clemson Sunday at McWhorter Stadium.

The Yellow Jackets used the longball to score all four of their runs, as Reese Hunter had a two-run homer in the top of the fourth inning. Tech finished the game with 10 hits in its first ever win over Clemson.

Tech (16-10, 1-2 ACC) broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth inning when Hunter drilled a 1-0 offering from Sierra Maness to deep leftfield. Hunter’s bomb came after Gracyn Tucker singled up the middle to lead off the inning.

Clemson wasted an opportunity to get on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning after Kiley Channel reached on an infield single and moved to second on a force at first base from Mac Pavese. However, Julia Knowler struck out looking, as Madalyn Johnson’s pitch just caught the inside part of the strike zone.

Marian Collins hit a hard ball to third base, but Tech’s Tucker was there to corral it and throw it to first for the force, ending the Tigers’ threat.

The Tigers (16-8, 2-1 ACC) did not waste their opportunity in the fifth inning. After Corri Hicks drew a one-out walk and Macey Cintron singled to right, Taylor Pipkins launched a bomb to centerfield that Tech’s Alyssa Willer could not make a play on.

The ball got away from Willer, allowing pinch runners Sam Minish and Kylee Johnson to come home, at the same time. The two Clemson runners almost simultaneously reached home plate, just beating the throw and the tag to tie the game.

Jamison Brockenbrough nearly gave Clemson a two-run lead when she sent Johnson’s one-out pitch to deep right field. However, Holly Medina caught the 205-foot blast at the wall. It was literally one foot short of going over.

The game did not stay tied for long, after Hunter singled with two outs to keep Tech’s sixth inning alive, Gailey made reliever Abby Dunning pay, as she belted a 1-0 pitch to straightaway center, giving the Yellow Jackets a 4-2 lead.

The Tigers loaded the bases with three straight walks in the bottom of the sixth. However, they were only able to get one runner across home plate. Hicks drew a one-out walk to cut the Yellow Jackets lead to one heading into the seventh.

Relief pitcher Kenley Hilleary came on and got Georgia Tech out of the jam, as she struck out Cintron and then got Pipkins to ground out to the circle. She then retired the side in the seventh inning to record her first save of the year.

FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING

Georgia Tech’s victory on Sunday marked the first time the Yellow Jackets have defeated the Tigers on the softball diamond. Clemson had won the first 15 games in the series.

CLEMSON COULD USE ‘MOORE’

Former Clemson star Maddie Moore was in attendance during Sunday’s game at McWhorter Stadium.

Moore was a First-Team All-American in 2025, as she helped lead the Tigers to their first ACC Tournament Championship and a spot in the NCAA Super Regional Round.

With Moore at second base, the Tigers posted a 48-14 record and were within 60-feet of advancing to the Women’s College World Series. They lost to eventual national champion Texas in the decisive third game of the Austin (Texas) Regional.

Moore posted a .411 batting average in 2025, which included 17 home runs and 71 RBIs.

UP NEXT

Clemson hosts Winthrop at 6 p.m., on Wednesday.