CLEMSON — He was not his usual efficient self on Sunday, but Clemson pitcher Aiden Knaak was good enough, as No. 4 Clemson beat Georgia Tech, 9-3, at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Thanks to Friday’s 11-4 win in Game 1 of the series, the Tigers took the series from Georgia Tech. Clemson has now won 15 of its last 16 ACC series.

Knaak pitched just four innings against the Yellow Jackets (28-17, 12-12 ACC) before being replaced by Billy Barlow in the fifth inning. The freshman, who has been tremendous for much of the season, gave up a hit and a walk in the first inning and then gave up a home run to Payton Green to start the second inning.

Knaak eventually settled down. The first five outs he recorded were via the strikeout. He finished the game with seven strikeouts and three walks.

The righty threw 78 pitches before being pulled after the fourth inning. Green’s home run in the second ended his streak of 14 2/3 innings of scoreless pitching. Knaak has allowed just two earned runs over the last 31 2/3 innings of work.

After Georgia Tech scored the game’s first run on Green’s homer to leftfield in the top of the second inning, the Tigers responded with two of their own in the bottom half of the second.

Jimmy Obertop doubled down the leftfield line to score Cam Cannarella from second base, and Tristan Bissetta followed with a double to right on the next at-bat to plate Obertop.

After Cannarella’s triple to rightfield scored Blake Wright in the third inning,  Clemson broke open the game with a four-run fourth inning. The big blow came from Jacob Hinderleider, who sent a three-run bomb over the wall in leftfield with two outs.

The Tigers (36-10, 17-7 ACC) also got an RBI single from Nolan Nawrocki earlier in the inning. The Nawrocki RBI hit and Hinderleider’s three-run bomb, allowed Clemson to extend its lead to 7-1 after four innings.

Cannarella doubled to lead off the fifth inning for Clemson and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Jack Crighton to push the advantage to 8-1.

Jarren Purify added to the lead, 9-1, in the sixth inning after he scored on a Wright sacrifice fly.

BULLPEN KING

Barlow came on in relief in the fifth inning and pitched four innings before giving away to Jacob McGovern. The redshirt sophomore pitched four scoreless inning before giving up a two-run home run to pinch hitter Parker Brosius in the ninth inning.

The righty earned the win on the mound to improve his record to 5-1. It was his first decision since April 2 when he went five innings to beat USC Upstate.

UP NEXT

Clemson will visit the Charlotte 49ers Tuesday night in Charlotte at Knight’s Stadium in Uptown. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.

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!