CLEMSON – Unlike Clemson’s 15-inning, six-hour, walk-off loss to the Georgia Bulldogs last year, there were no dramatics in the second-ranked Tigers’ 3-0 takedown of the No. 10 Bulldogs at Doug Kingsmore Stadium Tuesday night. Dominant pitching and clutch hitting ensured that Clemson could reclaim the bragging rights they lost last April.

In 42 games this season, the Bulldogs have averaged over nine runs per game, with a team batting average of .299. Georgia’s second and third hitters in the lineup, second baseman Robbie Burnett and Ryland Zaborowski, lead the SEC with 17 and 16 home runs, respectively.

However, Clemson’s (36-7) pitching effectively prevented the Bulldogs from scoring runs on Tuesday, fostering an uncharacteristic quiet night at the plate. Georgia recorded no runs and only three hits in the loss, none of which came from Burnett or Zaborowski or resulted in runs. 

The defeat marked the Bulldogs’ (33-10) first midweek loss of the season and first shutout in over a year, while Clemson improved to 4-1 against SEC teams this season. 

Freshman pitcher Talan Bell set an early tone for Clemson’s success on the mound with four strikeouts in two innings, giving up no hits or walks. In only his fourth collegiate outing, Bell issued five strikeouts, two walks, two hits, and no runs in 3.2 innings of work.

Bell returned from an elbow injury on March 26th and is still working on a strict 60 pitch count, according to head coach Erik Bakich. In 6.0 innings pitched so far, Bell has allowed only one run on three hits.

“I thought his first 40 pitches he really good in control, dominant, looked great,” Bakich said. “He escaped the jam in the third inning, but was just very poised for a freshman, and he just keeps getting better every time he goes out.”

After Bell’s electric first inning, it was the Clemson offense’s turn to ensure his hard work was not wasted.

Dominic Listi, Clemson’s leadoff hitter, stirred the Tigers’ offense and crowd in his first plate appearance in the first inning, taking a pitch to the arm to become Clemson’s first base runner of the night. Two batters later, designated hitter Collin Priest rocketed a double down the right field line to score Listi. Priest advanced to third on an error but was left stranded.

In the second inning, first baseman Luke Gaffney drew a leadoff walk and shortstop Andrew Ciufo promptly pushed him into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Listi, back at the plate, drew a full count, took a deep breath, and launched a triple a foot shy of the grand for an RBI.

Five innings later, Ciufo singled to start the inning, and center fielder Cam Cannarella punched him home with a two-out double.

Catcher Jacob Jarrell and third baseman Josh Paino represented the remainder of Clemson’s seven hits. 

Jacob McGovern, T.P. Wentworth, Reed Garris, and Lucas Mahlstedt pitched in relief for the Tigers and gave up only one collective hit and walk, while striking out four over 4.1 innings. McGovern picked up the win and improved to 3-0 on the year.

Mahlstedt picked up the save, which brought him to a total of 15, tying the program save record. 

Even at an 8 p.m. game on a Tuesday, Clemson fans packed Doug Kingsmore Stadium to watch the top-10 matchup. Fans in the grandstands, the Cajun Cafe, standing next to the visitors’ bullpen, and level with home plate erupted for each strikeout, hit, drawn walk, and run.

“I want to shout out Tiger Nation and DKS, that crowd was reminiscent of the Gamecock series,” Bakich said.

“It looked like a regional or super regional crowd. That was an electric factory. There was buzz, noisy, it was rowdy. It was perfect, and it’s exactly what we were hoping for.”

Up Next

Clemson has one day of rest before starting its seventh ACC series of the year against NC State Thursday in Raleigh. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Dail Park.