CLEMSON — Blake Wright had himself a day. Unfortunately, his bullpen did not.

The Clemson third baseman hit three home runs, a double and drove in 10 runs, as the 4th-ranked Tigers split the doubleheader Friday to Georgia Tech at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The Yellow Jackets rallied from five runs down on three different occasions to beat Clemson in Game 2, 14-12.

Mike Becchetti’s two-run home run with two outs in the ninth inning completed Tech’s comeback. Georgia Tech scored 11 of their 14 runs in the last three innings of the game.

After winning Game 1 of the series, Wright hit two home runs and seven RBIs in the second game. He fell a triple short of hitting for the cycle.

Gary Burnham is the last Clemson Tiger to hit for the cycle. He performed the feat at UT Arlington on Feb. 18, 1995. Wright’s seven RBIs were a career-high.

Wright finished the second game 4-for-5 at the plate. The senior also had a three-run homer on a 2-for-4 afternoon in the first game.

The Tigers (35-10, 16-7 ACC) won Game 1, 11-4.

It did not take Wright long to make his presence known in Game 2. With two outs in the first inning he drove Cam Jones’ 2-1 offering to leftfield for a solo shot.

With two on and two outs in the bottom of the third, Wright struck again. This time he launched a bomb down the leftfield line, which scored Alden Mathis and Nolan Nawrocki.

In the fifth inning, Wright smacked a double to the gap between left and centerfield, plating Jacob Hinderleider, which made it 7-2 at the time. Hinderleider had a two-run double moments earlier to score Jarren Purify and Mathis.

Wright drove in his sixth run of the game and ninth of the day with a base hit to left field with two outs, scoring Mathis for an 8-3 lead.

Clemson’s bullpen wasted a good outing from starter Ethan Darden. The lefty pitched six innings, allowing three runs on seven hits and had an 8-3 lead when he left the game.

RECORD-SETTING HOMER

Georgia Tech’s Drew Burress set a new mark for home runs by a freshman. In the top of the seventh inning the centerfielder smacked a three-run home run to right field, giving him the single-season record for home runs by a freshman with 19.

That pulled Tech (28-16, 12-11 ACC) within two runs, 8-6, at the time.

Burress hit a second home run–20th of the season–in the eighth inning, this time a three-run shot, which cut the Clemson lead to 12-11 at the time. He finished the day 2-for-5 with six RBIs.

UP NEXT

Clemson and the Yellow Jackets will conclude their series at 1 p.m., on Sunday.

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!