Clemson Evens Series with a Victory in Game Two

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Clemson (32-19, 10-15 ACC) scored three runs in the first inning and never looked back in an 8-2 win over No. 12 Virginia (36-13, 15-11 ACC) on Saturday (May 15). In a series already marred with weather issues, the rubber match was put into an extended weather delay after the conclusion of game two. Game officials will continue to monitor the weather into Sunday evening.

Just as it did in game one, Clemson posted three runs in the top of the first inning, collecting four hits and capitalizing on a pair of UVA defensive miscues. The Cavaliers committed a season-high four errors in the contest, the first four-error game since the 2020 season. Including the Clemson series opener, UVA had come back to win in the three previous games an opponent has scored three runs in its first at bat.

The Cavalier offense was limited to eight hits, a combined four coming off the bats of Jake Gelof and Devin Ortiz. Each went 2-for-4 in the contest and Gelof scored one of the two Cavalier runs.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Clemson starting pitcher Geoffrey Gilbert scattered seven hits and allowed only one earned run over six innings to earn the victory. The lefthander struck out four batters and issued one free pass in the longest outing of his career. His previous high was 4.1 innings against Florida State earlier this season.
• The Tigers hit two more home runs in the contest, bringing their series total up to five. Cleanup hitter Blake Wright hit a solo shot in the sixth and Will Taylor hit his first career home run, a solo blast in the seventh.
• Both UVA runs came into score on sacrifice flies. Gelof scored on a deep fly ball off the bat of Casey Saucke in the second inning to narrow the Tiger lead to 3-1. Sophomore Kyle Teel was credited with his 41^st RBI with a sacrifice fly to center field that plated Justin Rubin in the third.
• Cavalier reliever Matt Wyatt did the bulk of the heavy lifting out of the bullpen, pitching four innings of one run baseball.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• The multi-hit game was Gelof’s 21^st of the season, tying him for the team lead with Alex Tappen.
• Ortiz, who has 20 multi-hit efforts this year, has reached base safely in a season-high 16-straight games, the longest active streak on the team.
• Four of the last five series against Clemson have been decided in the final game.
• The last time Virginia committed four errors in a game was in a 14-4 win over Bucknell on Feb. 22, 2020.