CLEMSON BASEBALL

#16 Tigers sweep doubleheader in Blacksburg

#16 Tigers sweep doubleheader in Blacksburg


by -

Blacksburg, VA -

Brad Miller’s three-run homer in the eighth inning broke a 3-3 tie in #16 Clemson’s 8-3 win over Virginia Tech in front of 713 fans in the second game of a doubleheader at English Field on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers, who took a 2-0 lead in the series and won their eighth game in a row, improved to 36-15 overall and 15-11 in the ACC. The Hokies dropped to 28-23 overall and 9-17 in the ACC.

Joseph Moorefield (2-1) struck out the only batter he faced in the seventh inning to earn the win. Matt Campbell pitched 2.0 hitless and scoreless innings with three strikeouts to record his second save of the season. Starter Justin Sarratt pitched 6.1 effective innings, allowing six hits, three runs, and one walk with eight strikeouts. Clemson also improved to 10-0 in Sarratt’s 10 starts in 2011. Four Tiger pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts in the contest as well.

Hokie starter Marc Zecchino (5-5) suffered the loss. He yielded seven hits, five runs (four earned), and one walk with seven strikeouts in 7.1 innings pitched.

After Sarratt struck out the first five Hokies to start the game, Matt Blow lined a two-out, solo homer down the right-field line in the second inning, his third long ball of the season. It was also only the second home run allowed by Sarratt in 2011 and snapped his streak of 27.2 innings pitched without allowing an earned run.

The Tigers responded in the top of the third inning to take the lead. In his first career start, freshman Mike Dunster led off with a single up the middle and John Hinson crushed a long two-run home run to right field, his sixth long ball of the season. It was also Clemson’s first extra-base hit of the series.

In the bottom of the third inning, Johnny Morales belted a one-out double to left-center. Two batters later with two outs, Michael Seaborn laced a 1-2 pitch off the wall in left field for a double to plate Morales and tie the score 2-2.

Clemson regained the lead in the fourth inning. Jeff Schaus reached with one out when left-fielder Andrew Rash dropped his liner, the first error by either team in the series. Two batters later, Chris Epps ripped a two-out single up the middle to score Schaus.

In the seventh inning, Rash led off with hit a hard-hit grounder on an 0-2 pitch right at Hinson, but he could not field the ball cleanly and Rash reached on the infield single. Two batters later, Tyler Horan grounded a one-out single through the right side to advance Rash to third base. Pinch-hitter Chad Pinder followed with a single to left field to bring home Rash and tie the score 3-3. After both runners stole a base, Morales flied out to shallow left-center as neither runner advanced. Moorefield then struck out Jake Atwell to keep the score tied.

In the eighth inning, Dunster led off with a walk on six pitches after Zecchino had retired nine batters in a row, then Hinson blooped a single to left field. Phil Pohl’s bunt back to the mound allowed Zecchino to throw to third base to retire pinch-runner Steve Wilkerson. But Miller blasted a 2-2 breaking ball over the fence in right field for a three-run homer, his third long ball of the year, to give Clemson a 6-3 lead.

The Tigers added two insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning, Schaus led off with a single up the middle on an 0-2 pitch and went to third on Jason Stolz’s single through the left side. Epps followed with a single through the right side to score Schaus and move Stolz to third. Wilkerson lofted a sacrifice fly to left field to score Stolz and give Clemson a five-run lead.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, a one-out walk by Tony Balisteri and two-out walks by Chris Kay and Morales loaded the bases. But Campbell struck out pinch-hitter Gabe Ortiz to end the game.

With the win, Clemson became the sixth team to clinch a spot in the 2011 ACC Tournament.

Hinson paced the Tigers’ 13-hit attack by going 4-for-5 with a homer, two RBIs, and two runs. Miller went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer and hit-by-pitch, while Epps went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a stolen base. Will Lamb went 0-for-4, snapping his 25-game hitting streak.

Six different Hokies accounted for the team’s six hits.

Clemson and Virginia Tech will play the finale of the three-game series on Sunday at 1:00 PM.


Clemson 8 (36-15,15-11 ACC)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB

------------------------------------------------------

John Hinson 3b........... 5 2 4 2 0 0 1 0 0

Phil Pohl c.............. 5 1 1 0 0 1 12 0 0

Brad Miller ss........... 4 1 2 3 0 0 1 2 2

Richie Shaffer 1b........ 4 0 0 0 0 0 5 1 1

Will Lamb cf............. 4 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 0

Jeff Schaus lf........... 4 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 0

Jason Stolz 2b........... 4 1 2 0 0 2 0 3 0

Chris Epps rf............ 4 0 2 2 0 1 2 0 1

Mike Dunster dh.......... 2 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0

Steve Wilkerson pr/dh... 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

Justin Sarratt p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0

Alex Frederick p........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Joseph Moorefield p..... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Matt Campbell p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Totals................... 36 8 13 8 1 7 27 6 4

Virginia Tech 3 (28-23,9-17 ACC)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB

------------------------------------------------------

Jake Atwell cf/p......... 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 2

Sean McDermott p........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Gabe Ortiz ph........... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3

Michael Seaborn 2b....... 4 0 1 1 0 1 3 3 0

Ronnie Shaban 1b......... 4 0 0 0 0 2 7 0 1

Tim Smalling ss.......... 3 0 0 0 1 2 2 2 0

Andrew Rash lf........... 4 1 1 0 0 2 1 0 0

Matt Blow dh............. 3 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0

Tony Balisteri cf....... 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0

Tyler Horan rf........... 4 0 1 0 0 1 3 0 1

Chad Morgan c............ 2 0 0 0 0 0 6 2 0

Chad Pinder ph.......... 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0

Chris Kay c............. 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0

Johnny Morales 3b........ 2 1 1 0 1 0 2 2 0

Marc Zecchino p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0

Totals................... 32 3 6 3 4 12 27 11 7

Score by Innings R H E

-------------------------------------------

Clemson............. 002 100 032 - 8 13 0

Virginia Tech....... 011 000 100 - 3 6 1

-------------------------------------------

E - RASH(3). DP - Clemson 1; Va. Tech 2. LOB - Clemson 4; Va. Tech 7. 2B -

SEABORN(20); MORALES(9). HR - HINSON(6); MILLER(3); BLOW(3). HBP - MILLER;

MORALES. SF - WILKERSON(2). SB - EPPS(9); HORAN(3); PINDER(4). CS - EPPS(3).

Clemson IP H R ER BB SO AB BF

-----------------------------------------------

Justin Sarratt...... 6.1 6 3 3 1 8 24 26

Alex Frederick...... 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1

Joseph Moorefield... 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1

Matt Campbell....... 2.0 0 0 0 3 3 6 9

Virginia Tech IP H R ER BB SO AB BF

-----------------------------------------------

Marc Zecchino....... 7.1 7 5 4 1 7 27 29

Jake Atwell......... 0.2 3 3 3 0 0 5 5

Sean McDermott...... 1.0 3 0 0 0 0 4 5

Win - MOOREFIELD (2-1). Loss - ZECCHINO (5-5). Save - CAMPBELL (2).

WP - ZECCHINO(4). HBP - by ZECCHINO (MILLER); by SARRATT (MORALES).

Umpires - HP: Greg Street 1B: David Brown 3B: A.J. Lostaglio

Start: 4:14 PM Time: 2:43 Attendance: 713

ATWELL faced 2 batters in the 9th.

Game 1:

Blacksburg, VA -

Jeff SchausJeff Schaus
Outfielder
#3 6-1, 205
Naples, FL

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went 2-for-2 with two RBIs, two walks, and a hit-by-pitch to lead #16 Clemson to a 7-2 win over Virginia Tech in the first game of a doubleheader at English Field on Saturday. The Tigers, who took a 1-0 series lead and won their seventh game in a row, improved to 35-15 overall and 14-11 in the ACC. The Hokies dropped to 28-22 overall and 9-16 in ACC play.

Starter Dominic LeoneDominic Leone
RH Pitcher
#6 5-11, 185
Norwich, CT

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(5-1) earned the win for the Tigers in 6.0 innings pitched. He allowed six hits, two runs, and two walks with seven strikeouts.

Hokie starter Joe Mantiply (5-7) suffered the loss, as he gave up nine hits, six runs, and five walks with two strikeouts in 4.2 innings pitched.

In the first inning, John HinsonJohn Hinson
Infielder
#4 6-1, 180
Asheville, NC

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led off with a flyball that fell for a single in shallow right-center and Phil PohlPhil Pohl
Catcher
#9 5-11, 210
Cooperstown, NY

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lined a single to center. Two batters later, Richie ShafferRichie Shaffer
Infielder
#8 6-3, 205
Charlotte, NC

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drew a one-out walk to load the bases, then Will LambWill Lamb
Outfielder
#30 6-6, 175
Seaford, VA

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reached on a fielder’s choice as Hinson scored.

Chris EppsChris Epps
Outfielder
#26 6-1, 195
Stone Mountain, GA

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led off the second inning with a walk on seven pitches, then Spencer KieboomSpencer Kieboom
Catcher
#22 6-0, 210
Marietta, GA

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executed a hit-and-run on the next pitch when he singled through the right side to advance Epps to third base. Hinson followed with a sacrifice fly to deep right-center on an 0-2 pitch to plate Epps. Pohl hit a soft liner on an 0-2 pitch for a single to right-center, but he was retired at second base on Brad MillerBrad Miller
Infielder
#13 6-1, 185
Windermere, FL

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’s fielder’s choice. With two outs, Kieboom scored on a passed ball to give Clemson a 3-0 lead.

In the third inning, Chad Morgan led off with a double to left field and advanced to third on Johnny Morales’ sacrifice bunt. Jake Atwell followed with a single to right-center to score Morgan, then Michael Seaborn hit a double to right-center on a 1-2 pitch to score Atwell.

In the top of the fifth inning, Miller lined a one-out single to center and Shaffer walked. After Lamb’s infield single to first loaded the bases, Schaus grounded a single through the right side to score Miller and Shaffer. Jason StolzJason Stolz
Infielder
#2 6-2, 200
Marietta, GA

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then lined a sacrifice fly to left field to plate Lamb.

The Hokies threatened to cut into Clemson’s lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Atwell lined a one-out single off Stolz’s glove at second and Seaborn was hit-by-pitch. Ronnie Shaban’s four-pitch walk loaded the bases, but Leone struck out Tim Smalling and Andrew Rash to end the inning and keep the Tigers ahead by four runs.

In the top of the ninth inning, Lamb lined a one-out single to right, Schaus lined a single to center, and Stolz lined a single to center to load the bases. Epps’ groundout to first scored Lamb.

In the bottom of the ninth inning as steady rain fell, Tyler Horan led off with a double to right-center and went to third on Morgan’s single to left-center. With a 2-1 count on Morales, the horn went off to halt play due to inclement weather. After the 122-minute delay, Scott WeismannScott Weismann
RH Pitcher
#33 6-0, 190
Boxborough, MA

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took the mound for the Tigers and threw two straight strikes to strike out Morales. Atwell popped up to Hinson for out #2, then Seaborn struck out to end the game.

Pohl and Lamb both went 3-for-5 to lead Clemson’s 14-hit attack. Lamb also extended his hitting streak to 25 games, the fifth-longest in Tiger history and the longest by an ACC player in 2011.

Atwell and Morgan had two hits apiece to lead Virginia Tech, who totaled eight hits in the contest.


Clemson 7 (35-15,14-11 ACC)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB

------------------------------------------------------

John Hinson 3b........... 4 1 2 1 0 1 1 1 0

Phil Pohl dh............. 5 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

Brad Miller ss........... 5 1 2 0 0 1 2 3 0

Richie Shaffer 1b........ 3 1 0 0 2 0 9 0 1

Will Lamb cf............. 5 2 3 1 0 0 2 0 2

Jeff Schaus lf........... 2 0 2 2 2 0 0 0 0

Jason Stolz 2b........... 3 0 1 1 0 1 2 3 3

Chris Epps rf............ 3 1 0 1 2 1 1 0 0

Spencer Kieboom c........ 5 1 1 0 0 0 10 0 5

Dominic Leone p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0

Scott FirthScott Firth RH Pitcher #20 6-0, 165 Buffalo Grove, IL View Full Profile p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Scott Weismann p........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Totals................... 35 7 14 6 6 4 27 10 11

Virginia Tech 2 (28-22,9-16 ACC)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB

------------------------------------------------------

Jake Atwell dh........... 5 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0

Michael Seaborn 2b....... 4 0 1 1 0 3 3 3 2

Ronnie Shaban 1b......... 3 0 0 0 1 0 11 2 0

Tim Smalling ss.......... 4 0 1 0 0 1 3 6 1

Andrew Rash lf........... 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 3

Tony Balisteri cf........ 4 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 0

Chad Pinder rf........... 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1

Tyler Horan rf.......... 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

Chad Morgan c............ 3 1 2 0 1 1 4 1 1

Zac MacAneney pr........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Johnny Morales 3b........ 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 1

Joe Mantiply p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0

Manny Martir p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Sean McDermott p........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Brandon Fisher p........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Totals................... 33 2 8 2 2 10 27 17 9

Score by Innings R H E

-------------------------------------------

Clemson............. 120 030 001 - 7 14 0

Virginia Tech....... 002 000 000 - 2 8 0

-------------------------------------------

DP - Clemson 1. LOB - Clemson 11; Va. Tech 9. 2B - SEABORN(19);

SMALLING(14); HORAN(7); MORGAN(7). 3B - PINDER(4). HBP - SCHAUS; SEABORN;

RASH. SH - STOLZ(9); MORALES(13). SF - HINSON(4); STOLZ(4). CS - HINSON(5);

LAMB(3); SCHAUS(6).

Clemson IP H R ER BB SO AB BF

-----------------------------------------------

Dominic Leone....... 6.0 6 2 2 2 7 23 27

Scott Firth......... 2.0 2 0 0 0 1 7 8

Scott Weismann...... 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 3 3

Virginia Tech IP H R ER BB SO AB BF

-----------------------------------------------

Joe Mantiply........ 4.2 9 6 5 5 2 18 26

Manny Martir........ 1.1 2 0 0 0 1 6 6

Sean McDermott...... 2.0 0 0 0 1 1 5 7

Brandon Fisher...... 1.0 3 1 1 0 0 6 6

Win - LEONE (5-1). Loss - MANTIPLY (5-7). Save - None.

HBP - by MANTIPLY (SCHAUS); by LEONE (SEABORN); by FIRTH (RASH). PB - MORGAN(5).

Umpires - HP: A.J. Lostaglio 1B: Greg Street 3B: David Brown

Start: 11:05 AM Time: 2:39 Attendance:

Game notes:

Play halted due to inclement weather in bottom of ninth inning at 1:40 PM.

Play resumed at 3:42 PM (122-minute delay).

FIRTH faced 2 batters in the 9th.

Clemson and Virginia Tech will play the second game of the doubleheader at approximately 4:10 PM.

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