Georgia Tech Baseball Falls to Clemson in ACC Semis

Clemson Slams Door on Georgia Tech’s ACC Title Hopes

Yellow Jackets’ bats go cold in late innings as Tigers roar back in 9-4 semifinal stunner

What began as a dream run in the ACC Tournament turned into a harsh reality check for Georgia Tech baseball fans.

Fresh off tying the ACC Tournament single-game home run record, the Yellow Jackets entered Saturday’s semifinal showdown against Clemson riding high. But confidence wasn’t enough to overcome a third-inning implosion and a resurgent Tigers lineup, as Georgia Tech fell 9-4 — a loss that may have cost them the chance to host a regional in the NCAA Tournament.

The Jackets came out firing. Right fielder Alex Hernandez capitalized on a Clemson error to plate the first run, followed by a Vahn Lackey RBI single to give Tech a 2-0 lead. Drew Rogers added a solo blast in the second inning — his third homer of the tournament — and suddenly the Jackets were up 3-0 and threatening to bury the Tigers early.

But the turning point came in the third.

Georgia Tech starter Brady Jones, who previously beat Clemson during the regular season, unraveled after cruising through the first two innings. With the bases loaded and two outs, Tigers catcher Jacob Jarrell delivered a backbreaking grand slam, turning a two-run deficit into a 4-3 Clemson lead. Jones was pulled after the third, finishing with 3 hits, 5 strikeouts, and 3 hit batters in just three innings of work.

From there, the Tech offense sputtered. The Yellow Jackets managed just one more run — a Will Baker RBI in the fourth — and failed to score in the final five innings. Meanwhile, Clemson’s bats stayed hot, tacking on four more runs and burying any comeback hopes.

Georgia Tech now waits for Monday’s NCAA Tournament Selection Show. Projected as a No. 2 seed, they’ll seemingly hit the road — with questions lingering about their pitching depth and postseason staying power.

For a team with Omaha dreams, Saturday’s loss served as a painful reminder: momentum can vanish in an inning.