Georgia shuts out Tigers for first time in 50 years
By: clemson April 21, 2015

By Trey McCurry.

ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia came into Tuesday night’s game against rival Clemson as losers in 10 of its last 12 outings. One of those victories came against the Tigers on April 7, which ended a five-game losing streak at the time.

This time, the Bulldogs ended a four-game losing streak thanks to a second win over Clemson this season. Georgia used four straight two-out hits in the bottom of the first inning to score four runs, which was all it needed in a 7-0 victory at Foley Field in Athens.

Georgia’s win also snapped the Tigers’ five-game winning streak and it was the first over Clemson at home since 2009. In fact, it was the first win by a home team in the series since the Tigers beat Georgia 11-5 in 2011, a span of eight games.

Though Georgia (21-20) came into the game with plans of pitching as many players as they could with a three-game series at Auburn starting on Thursday, the Bulldogs’ arms shut down the Tigers all night. In fact, the shutout was Georgia’s first over Clemson since 1965.

It marked the second time the Tigers have been shutout this season. West Virginia blanked Clemson, 2-0, in the season opener.

Clemson (22-19) finished the night with just two hits. The season-low was five against UNC on April 5 before Tuesday. The Tigers had scored at least six runs in each of the last seven games.

The Bulldogs grabbed a 4-0 lead in the first inning when Daniel Nichols doubled to left field with two outs to score Stephen Wrenn from second base. Skyler Weber then followed with a two-run single to centerfield and Brandon Stephens singled to right to plate the fourth run.

Georgia plated a fifth run in the fifth inning and two more  in the bottom of the eighth inning.

But the story of the night was Georgia pitching. Four pitchers—Jared Walsh, Mike Manuso, Ryan Avidano and Jared Cheek—combined to limit the Tigers to two hits, while inducing three double plays. Clemson never had a runner in scoring position.

The Tigers’ pitching on the other hand was not to standard, especially starter Brody Koerner. The righty gave up four runs on five hits in just two innings of work in taking the loss. Clate Schmidt, Jake Long, Pat Krall and Kevin Pohle came in relief and for the most part did what they had to do in trying to keep Clemson close.

The Tigers will be back in action on Friday when they travel to Atlanta to battle Georgia Tech in a key three-game series in the ACC. Game 1 is set to begin at 7 p.m.