By DOUG ALDEN
AP Sports Writer
OMAHA, NE (AP) — Jeff Baker hit a bases-loaded double
and Michael Johnson homered as Clemson held off Georgia Tech 9-7 in
the College World Series on Sunday night.
The Tigers improved to 3-2 this season against their
Atlantic Coast Conference rivals and moved within one win of playing
in the CWS championship game Saturday.
It's the first time in 10 trips to Omaha that Clemson
(54-15) has opened the CWS 2-0.
Johnson was 3-for-3 with two RBIs and reliever Jeff
Hahn (3-0) was credited with the win after coming on in the fourth
inning.
Jason Perry homered and had two RBIs and Philip Perry
had a strong relief outing that gave Tech (52-15) a chance at coming
back after falling behind 8-0 in the second.
Clemson chased Tech starter Chris Goodman (8-2) after
just 1 2-3 innings. Goodman was charged with seven runs on five hits
and was replaced by Aaron Walker, who lasted just two hitters.
Philip Perry relieved Walker and went 6 1-3 innings,
striking out six while holding Clemson to one run on two hits.
Clemson had four doubles in the second as the Tigers
scored eight runs on seven hits in 13 at-bats.
Baker, who hit a game-winning single Friday in
Clemson's win over Nebraska, doubled with the bases loaded to put the
Tigers up 6-0. Johnson drove in Baker with a double, then Johnson
scored on another double by Roberto Valiente.
Jason Perry hit a solo homer for the Yellow Jackets in
the bottom of the second and Eric Patterson added an RBI single to cut
the lead to 8-2.
Tech added three runs in the third, including an RBI
single by Jason Perry, and cut the lead to 8-6 when Victor Menocal
came in from third on a balk. But Johnson got the run right back with
a homer to right that landed in the tunnel in the bleachers.
Tech got two hits and a walk with two outs in the
seventh, and Eric Patterson scored on a double by Menocal.
A power surge between the sixth and seventh innings
knocked out the scoreboard and cut the lights to a single row on each
standard. It was still daylight, so the game was not delayed and the
lights and scoreboard were fully operating by the end of the seventh.
