Eli White hit a base knock to left field to score Reed Rohlman with the game-winning run as No. 22 Clemson rallied to beat Georgia Tech, 8-7, in the 10th inning of Game 1 of the three-game series at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
“That was a big hit for us,” Clemson head coach Monte Lee said. “I’m so happy for Eli to come up with a big hit and win the ball game for us.”
Georgia Tech could have protested the Clemson win as it appeared Rohlman failed to touch home plate. But Tech’s catcher, Arden Pabst did not realize it and walked away from the play and into the dugout, giving up his opportunity to argue the call.
Game 1 was postponed with score tied at seven after eight innings on Friday night due to inclement weather in the Clemson area, and it resumed at 4:01 p.m. on Saturday. The Tigers trailed Georgia Tech 7-2 after six innings and rallied to get the victory.
Clemson (26-12, 9-10 ACC) took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when White dove in Chris Okey with a fielder’s choice to third base for the first run. On the same play, Rohlman came home to score when Georgia Tech shortstop Connor Justus threw the ball in the dirt at third base while trying to throw out Rohlman.
The Yellow Jackets (25-13, 8-10 ACC) rallied in the top of the third when Justus homered to left field to make the score, 2-1.
The score stayed that way until the top of the fifth inning when Matt Gonzalez and Kel Johnson had back-to-back two-out hits to allow the Yellow Jackets to take the lead. Gonzalez singled to left field to score Arden Pabst. Johnson followed with a double to the gap in right field to bring Gonzalez home for the go-ahead run and a 3-2 lead.
Georgia Tech extended the lead to 5-2 in the top of the sixth inning when Pabst ripped a two-run double to the gap in left field, scoring Trevor Craport and Ryan Peurifory. Pabst later scored when Wade Bailey flew out to centerfield to make it a four-run game.
However, Peurifory gave the Tigers’ life in the bottom of the seventh inning when he slipped and dropped a Maleeke Gibson fly ball in centerfield with two outs. That mistake allowed Chris Williams to come home for the Tigers’ third run.
After Seth Beer was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Okey doubled to right centerfield, allowing Chase Pinder, Gibson and Beer to score, pulling Clemson within a run at 7-6. Rohlman then scored Okey with a single through the right side to tie the game.
Williams’, Okey’s and Rohlman’s hits all came with two outs. The Tigers were just 1-for-35 with two outs in the previous 4-plus games.
“It’s amazing how when one guy steps up there and hammers a baseball, the next guy steps up and hits a baseball … You know it really started when Okey hit that triple,” Lee said. “He hit the ball into right centerfield and then Rohlman stepped up and bam, a two-out base hit to tie this thing up and that carried over into today.”
Rohlman started the 10th inning with a base hit up the middle and then after Weston Wilson got him to second on a hit-and-run play, White ripped the game-winner into left centerfield to end the game.
“Rohlman put a another good swing to put the lead-off guy on base and then Weston did a good job on the slash, and then Eli has been up in that situation before. It is good to have a veteran come up there and get it done earlier with runners in scoring position,” Lee said. “Get a pitch to hit and hit it. He did that. I’m just very happy for our team to be able to come from behind and get the win in Game 1 here.”
Game 2 between the Tigers and Yellow Jackets is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m.