DURHAM, N.C. (theACC.com) – No. 5 seed Clemson (44-15) scored five runs in the top of the third inning, highlighted by a grand slam from Jacob Jarrell to upend No. 1 seed Georgia Tech (40-17), 9-4, in the first of two semifinal games of the 2025 ACC Baseball Championship on Saturday, May 24, in Durham, North Carolina.
 
The Tigers, who won the ACC Championship last time it was in Durham in 2023, will play the winner of the No. 3 seed North Carolina (40-12) and No. 2 seed Florida State (38-13) in the championship game on Sunday, May 25, at noon ET on ESPN2.
 
The Tigers had nine runs on eight hits, powered by Jarrell’s (1-for-4, GS, 4 RBI, run) grand slam. Andrew Ciufo (2-for-3, 2 2B, BB, 2 runs) led the way with a team-high two base hits, while the other six hits came from six different players.
 
Georgia Tech’s offense was led by Kent Schmidt (2-for-4, run) and Kyle Lodise (2-for-4) with two hits apiece, while the three RBIs came from three different Jackets in Drew Rogers (1-for-3, HR, HBP, RBI, run), Vahn Lackey (1-for-3, BB, RBI) and Will Baker (1-for-3, RBI).
 
Picking up the win out of the bullpen was Joe Allen (5-0), as he entered the game in the fourth inning and pitched 1.1 scoreless innings, giving up just two hits, walking two and striking out one. Jacob McGovern (2) earned the save, striking out three over 4.0 scoreless innings.
 
The loss went to the Yellow Jackets’ starter Brady Jones (7-3), as the righty gave up five runs on just three hits, two walks and five strikeouts over 3.0 innings.
 
Georgia Tech jumped out to the early lead with two runs in the bottom of the first inning with the help of a Clemson error and a Lackey two-out RBI single to put the top seed in front 2-0 one inning into the contest.
 
After the Yellow Jackets’ Rogers hit a solo home run to straightaway center field in the bottom of the second inning to push the lead to 3-0, the Tigers struck back in the next half-inning with a lead-off double from Ciufo and an RBI single up the middle by Jarren Purify to get on the scoreboard and trim the Georgia Tech lead to two at 3-1.
 
The inning continued with a walk and a hit-by-pitch after a strikeout to load the bases with two outs for Jarrell. The catcher took a 1-0 pitch deep to left-center field and off the Tobacco Road restaurant sign for a grand slam to propel the Tigers in front for the first time at 5-3.
 
The Yellow Jackets got one run back in the bottom of the fourth inning, as a walk and wild pitch put a runner in scoring position for Baker, who laced a two-out double down the right field line to score one and put GT down one at 5-4 after four innings of play.
 
Georgia Tech threatened to score again in the bottom of the fifth inning, as the Jackets had runners on first and second with one out. Alex Hernandez came to the plate and hit a sinking line drive towards the right field corner, which was caught by a diving TP Wentworth, who then quickly threw the ball back to first base to double up the runner and end the inning with the Tigers still on top 5-4.
 
The Tigers’ McGovern kept the Yellow Jackets’ offense off the scoreboard over the final 4.0 innings, while the offense tacked on two runs in the top of the seventh, one more in the eighth and capped the scoring with a solo home run in the top of the ninth to put the final score at 9-4.
 
2025 ACC Baseball Championship Schedule
Tuesday, May 20
Game 1 – No. 16 California 12, No. 9 Miami 2 (8 innings)
Game 2 – No. 12 Virginia Tech 7, No. 13 Stanford 4
Game 3 – No. 15 Pitt 13, No. 10 Louisville 11
Game 4 – No. 14 Boston College 5, No. 11 Notre Dame 4 (10 innings)
 
Wednesday, May 21
Game 5 – No. 16 California 14, No. 8 Wake Forest 12
Game 6 – No. 5 Clemson 6, No. 12 Virginia Tech 1
Game 7 – No. 7 Duke 4, No. 15 Pitt 3
Game 8 – No. 14 Boston College 12, No. 6 Virginia 8
 
Thursday, May 22
Game 9 – No. 1 Georgia Tech 10, No. 16 California 3
Game 10 – No. 5 Clemson 7, No. 4 NC State 6 
 
Friday, May 23
Game 11 – No. 2 Florida State 14, No. 7 Duke 7
Game 12 – No. 3 North Carolina 7, No. 14 Boston College 2
 
Saturday, May 24
Game 13 – No. 5 Clemson 9, No. 1 Georgia Tech 4
Game 14 – No. 2 Florida State vs. No. 3 North Carolina, 5 p.m.
 
Sunday, May 25 - Championship Game
Game 15 – No. 5 Clemson vs. Game 14 winner, Noon, ESPN2
 
All Tuesday through Saturday games air on ACC Network
All times Eastern