CLEMSON BASEBALL

Two-Out Runs Propel Maine to 6-5 Win Over #16 Clemson

Two-Out Runs Propel Maine to 6-5 Win Over #16 Clemson


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Clemson, SC - Maine scored all six of its runs on two-out hits and held on to edge #16 Clemson 6-5 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Friday afternoon. Maine improved to 1-0 on the season and took a 1-0 series lead, while the Tigers dropped to 2-2 in 2012.

The Black Bears built a 4-0 lead with two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings, then the Tigers rallied with four runs in the seventh inning to tie the score. But Maine responded with two more runs on two, two-out singles in the eighth inning to take a 6-4 lead. Clemson put runners at second and third with one out in the ninth inning, but the Tigers could only manage one run and dropped their second one-run decision in 2012.

Jonathan Balentina (1-0), the third of four Black Bear pitchers, earned the win by tossing 1.1 hitless innings in relief. Shaun Coughlin, Maine's scheduled starting pitcher for game-three on Sunday, recorded the save by retiring all three batters he faced.

Tiger reliever Jonathan MeyerJonathan Meyer
Jr. RH Pitcher
#28 6-0, 180
San Diego, CA

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(0-1) suffered the loss, as he yielded two runs on three hits in 0.2 innings pitched. Starter Kevin BradyKevin Brady
RS Jr. RH Pitcher
#19 6-3, 220
Gaithersburg, MS

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pitched 5.0 solid innings, allowing just four hits, no earned runs, and no walks with five strikeouts.

After four scoreless innings to start the game, the Black Bears broke through in the fifth inning to take the game's first lead. Mike Connolly reached with two outs on an error and Colin Gay followed with a two-run homer down the left-field line, his first long ball of the season.

In the sixth inning, Ian Leisenheimer reached on a one-out, infield single and Alex Calbick followed with a bloop single to right field. Two batters later with two outs, Fran Whitten lined a single to right field to score pinch-runner Sam Balzano. Brian Doran then lined a single down the left-field line to score Calbick, giving Maine a 4-0 lead.

Clemson finally dented the scoreboard in the seventh inning with the help of the Black Bears' third error of the game. Pinch-hitter Dominic AttanasioDominic Attanasio
So. Outfielder
#1 5-7, 160
Windermere, FL

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reached on an error with one out and Thomas BrittleThomas Brittle
RS Jr. Outfielder
#4 5-8, 170
Cross, SC

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followed with a single to right field. Stephen Wilkerson then belted a double off the wall in left field to score Attanasio and Brittle. Richie ShafferRichie Shaffer
Jr.
#8 6-3, 205
Charlotte, NC

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came through with a line-drive double to left field to plate Wilkerson, then Phil PohlPhil Pohl
Sr. Catcher
#9 5-11, 215
Cooperstown, NY

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tied the score with a single to right-center that scored Shaffer.

The Black Bears came right back and regained the lead in the eighth inning. Calbick drew a one-out walk and advanced to second base on Justin Leisenheimer's check-swing groundout to third. Whitten followed with a two-out single to left-center to score Calbick. After Doran singled to left-center, Connolly grounded a single through the left side to plate Whitten, upping Maine's lead to 6-4.

In the ninth inning, Shaffer and Pohl led off with walks, both on four pitches, then Jon McGibbonJon McGibbon
So.
#12 6-1, 210
Lindenhurst, NY

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's sacrifice bunt moved the runners up a base. Spencer KieboomSpencer Kieboom
Jr. Catcher
#22 6-0, 220
Marietta, GA

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lined out to left-center to score Shaffer on the sacrifice fly to cut Maine's lead to 6-5, but Brad FelderBrad Felder
Gr. Outfielder
#3 6-0, 200
Bowman, SC

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flied out to left field to end the game.

Gay, Calbick, Whitten, and Doran all had two hits apiece to pace Maine, who outhit Clemson 12-10.

Brittle and Pohl had three hits apiece, while Wilkerson had a team-high two RBIs to lead the Tigers, who stranded 11 runners on base.

The loss was Clemson's first in 15 all-time games against Maine, Head Coach Jack LeggettJack Leggett
Baseball Head Coach
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's alma mater. Friday's matchup was the first meeting between the two teams since 2003.

Clemson and Maine will play game-two of the three-game series on Saturday at 4:30 PM.

Maine 6 (1-0)

Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB

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

Colin Gay cf............. 5 1 2 2 0 0 5 0 2

Troy Black 2b............ 5 0 1 0 0 1 1 2 0

Michael Fransoso ss...... 5 0 1 0 0 0 4 1 1

Ian Leisenheimer lf...... 2 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 0

Sam Balzano pr/lf....... 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0

Alex Calbick 3b.......... 4 2 2 0 1 1 3 3 1

Justin Leisenheimer 1b... 4 0 0 0 0 1 6 0 0

Fran Whitten dh.......... 4 1 2 2 0 2 0 0 0

Brian Doran rf........... 4 0 2 1 0 1 1 0 2

Mike Connolly c.......... 4 1 1 1 0 1 3 1 2

Stephen Perakslis p...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

D.J. Voisine p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Jonathan Balentina p.... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Shaun Coughlin p........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Totals................... 38 6 12 6 2 7 27 7 8

Clemson 5 (2-2)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB

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

Thomas Brittle cf........ 5 1 3 0 0 1 2 0 0

Steve WilkersonSteve Wilkerson So. #17 6-1, 185 Roswell, GA View Full Profile 2b....... 5 1 1 2 0 0 1 2 1

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

Phil Pohl dh............. 4 0 3 1 1 0 0 0 0

Jon McGibbon 1b.......... 3 0 0 0 1 0 11 0 2

Spencer Kieboom c........ 3 0 0 1 1 0 7 1 0

Brad Felder rf........... 4 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 4

Jason StolzJason Stolz Sr. Infielder #2 6-2, 205 Marietta, GA View Full Profile ss........... 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 5 3

Tyler SlatonTyler Slaton Fr. Outfielder #18 5-7, 195 Cumming, GA View Full Profile lf.......... 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 1

Dominic Attanasio ph/lf. 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Kevin Brady p............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

Matt CampbellMatt Campbell So. RH Pitcher #36 5-11, 185 Alpharetta, GA View Full Profile p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Jonathan Meyer p........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

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

Totals................... 35 5 10 5 6 3 27 12 11

Score by Innings R H E

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

Maine............... 000 022 020 - 6 12 3

Clemson............. 000 000 401 - 5 10 1

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

E - FRANSOSO 2(2); PERAKSLIS(1); SHAFFER(3). DP - Maine 1; Clemson 1. LOB -

Maine 8; Clemson 11. 2B - GAY(1); WILKERSON(1); SHAFFER(2). HR - GAY(1). HBP

- I. LEISENHEI. SH - McGIBBON(1). SF - S. KIEBOOM(1). SB - BALZANO(1);

FELDER(1). CS - FRANSOSO(1); STOLZ(2).

Maine IP H R ER BB SO AB BF

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

Stephen Perakslis... 6.1 8 3 2 2 2 27 29

D.J. Voisine........ 0.1 2 1 1 1 0 3 4

Jonathan Balentina.. 1.1 0 1 1 3 1 4 7

Shaun Coughlin...... 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3

Clemson IP H R ER BB SO AB BF

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

Kevin Brady......... 5.0 4 2 0 0 5 19 20

Matt Campbell....... 2.0 4 2 2 0 1 10 10

Jonathan Meyer...... 0.2 3 2 2 1 0 5 6

Scott Firth......... 1.1 1 0 0 1 1 4 5

Win - BALENTINA (1-0). Loss - MEYER (0-1). Save - COUGHLIN (1).

HBP - by BRADY (I. LEISENHEI).

Umpires - HP: Randy Watkins 1B: Jeremy Dupree 3B: Vic Correll

Start: 4:03 PM Time: 2:50 Attendance: 3793

BALENTINA faced 2 batters in the 9th.

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