The 18th-ranked Georgia Bulldogs fell short to the Clemson Tigers 8-4 at Foley Field Tuesday night in Athens Georgia

“We needed a shutdown inning after we tied it up in the fifth and they came right back with two runs to take the lead and the momentum back,” said head coach Scott Stricklin.

Clemson won both games of the series between the Georgia Bulldogs this year.

Georgia salvaged four runs from six hits. Ben Anderson led the Bulldogs with a three-RBI performance. Chaney Rogers also had a big game for the Dawgs and went 2-for-3.

Garrett Brown went 2.1 innings on the mound for the Dawgs giving up one run on two hits, including four strikeouts. Collin Caldwell lasted one inning for the Bulldogs and gave up three runs. Chandler Marsh threw 1.2 scoreless innings and recorded four strikeouts. Will Pearson suffered the loss for the Dawgs. Pearson went one inning and gave up two runs on two hits. Max DeJong and Jake Poindexter both went an inning for the Dawgs and gave up a combined two runs. Jack Gowen closed the game for the Dawgs and recorded two strikeouts.

Clemson hopped on the board first in the third with a solo home run by Jonathan French. Caden Grice then sent one in the trees for a three-run homer in the fourth for the Tigers.

In the bottom of the fifth Ben Anderson hit a base clearing line drive down the third base line to plate three runs for the Bulldogs. Connor Tate later scored Ben Anderson with an RBI and the Dawgs tied the game.

Clemson found their momentum in the sixth with a pair of RBIs to add on two more runs for the Tigers and extend their lead to 6-4.

In the seventh Max Wagner hit a solo home run for the Tigers to bring their score to 7-4. In the eighth Bryar Hawkins scored on a wild pitch and expanded the lead to 8-4.

The Dawgs will resume SEC play on the road Friday with a three-game series against Alabama in Tuscaloosa. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday evening.