Clemson Captures ACC Baseball Tournament Title |
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.(AP)- Sean Clark turned in eight strong innings in his first start ever at Clemson to help lead the Tigers to an 8-4 win over North Carolina State and claim its first Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Tournament title since 1994 on Sunday at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
The Tigers had played in the championship game five times in the past 11 years but had been forced to settle for runner-up honors each time. Clemson (47-14 and seeded No. 1 in the tournament) also finished with the best record in ACC play (24-6) during the regular season.
The Tigers will now move on to regional play where they will serve as one of 16 hosts in the NCAA post-season tournament starting Friday.
There was speculation as to how sharp Clemson would be after the Tigers had to be back out on the field less than 12 hours from the 1:30 a.m. completion of their 16-11 semifinal game win over Georgia Tech. But the Tigers played error-free ball, knocked out ten hits and other than a late letdown in the ninth inning when NC State scored four times, played in total control.
The surprise of the day was the performance by Clark, a last-minute addition to Clemson's tournament roster after starting outfielder Travis Storrer injured an ankle in the final game of the regular season. Clark, a junior by eligibility who has already graduated with a degree in economics, had appeared in just seven games this year, all in relief, and had only thrown 10 1/3 innings in those seven games.
He nearly matched that total on Sunday, pitching eight innings and facing one batter in the ninth before he was relieved. He allowed just one run, four hits, one walk and had five strikeouts to earn a berth on the all-tournament team.
"Sean has always intrigued us and has worked hard this year," Clemson coach Jack Leggett said. "The last time out he pitched well and I thought then that maybe we were missing out on something. I think the players have confidence in him too. He just seemed like the right person to give an opportunity to and he took advantage of it and did a great job for us."
Clark was sharp from the start. He retired the first seven batters before Caleb Mangum lined a single to center in the third inning. Clark didn't have a three-ball count on a batter until two out in the fifth inning when he issued his only walk of the game.
"I never dreamed this up. I just wanted to go out there and give my team a chance to win," said Clark who missed the entire 2005 season following shoulder surgery the previous fall. "I never had a chance to be nervous because I didn't find out I was starting until coach told me as we were getting on the bus to come to the ball park. I felt if I got through three, four or five innings, that would be fine with me, as long as we were in the game. It turned out to be better than that, and all the things that come with it are unbelievable."
Offensively the Tigers gave Clark support with a pair of four-run innings to score all of their runs. They pushed across the first four-spot in the fourth inning on just two hits but were benefited by two costly errors by North Carolina State third baseman Matt Mangini.that allowed a pair of runs. The other two runs came on successive bases-loaded walks to Brad Chalk and Marquez Smith.
Clemson doubled their lead in the seventh inning with Tyler Colvin delivering the key hit, a two-run single. Colvin, who stretched his hitting streak to 20 consecutive games, was named the Tournament's MVP.
North Carolina State (38-21) avoided a shutout with a four-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Wolfpack collected four hits, including a two-run single by Jonathan Diaz. When Matt Camp doubled down the right field line to bring home the fourth run, it brought the tying run to the on-deck circle.
But Clemson reliever P.J. Zocchi, the starter and winner in the Tigers first tournament game on Wednesday, came in and struck out Ramon Corona on three pitches to end the game.
All-Tournament Team
Danny Diaz, FSU, Catcher
Caleb Mangum, NCSU, Catcher
Luke Murton, GT, 1B
Taylor Harbin, Clem, 2B
Marquez Smith, Clem, 3B
Buster Posey, FSU, SS
Brad Chalk, Clem, OF
Tyler Colvin, Clem, OF
P.J. Mitchell, Clem, OF
Matt Camp, NCSU, OF
Travis Anderson, FSU, DH/UT
Sean Clark, Clem, Pitcher
Tournament MVP: Tyler Colvin, Clemson
2006 Clemson Baseball
#2 Clemson vs #25 N.C. State
May 28, 2006 at Jacksonville, FL (Baseball Grounds)
Clemson 8 (47-14)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
Herman Demmink dh........ 6 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 3
Brad Chalk cf............ 4 1 2 1 2 0 1 0 0
Marquez Smith 3b......... 3 1 1 2 3 0 1 2 1
Tyler Colvin lf.......... 6 1 3 2 0 0 3 0 3
Taylor Harbin 2b......... 4 0 0 0 2 0 2 2 3
Andy D'Alessio 1b........ 5 1 1 1 0 3 7 0 2
Ben Hall 1b............. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Stan Widmann ss.......... 5 2 3 0 0 1 2 3 3
D.J. Mitchell rf......... 3 1 0 0 2 0 3 0 0
Adrian Casanova c........ 4 0 0 0 0 1 8 0 0
Sean Clark p............. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Drew Fiorenza p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
P.J. Zocchi p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals................... 40 8 10 6 9 6 27 8 15
N.C. State 4 (38-21)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
Matt Camp cf............. 5 0 1 1 0 1 3 0 3
Ramon Corona 2b.......... 5 0 1 0 0 1 2 7 2
Aaron Bates 1b........... 4 1 2 0 0 0 11 0 0
Jon Still dh............. 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Brian Aragon rf.......... 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2
Ryan Pond lf............. 3 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0
Jeremy Synan ph......... 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Matt Mangini 3b.......... 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 0
Drew Martin ph/3b....... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Aaron Cone ph........... 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
Caleb Mangum c........... 4 0 1 0 0 1 5 0 0
Jonathan Diaz ss......... 3 0 1 2 1 1 1 4 0
Eric Surkamp p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Kyle Rutter p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Jason Duncan p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Travis High p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Joel Brookens p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals................... 34 4 7 4 1 8 27 14 7
Score by Innings R H E
-------------------------------------------
Clemson............. 000 400 400 - 8 10 0
N.C. State.......... 000 000 004 - 4 7 3
-------------------------------------------
E - CORONA(10); MANGINI 2(14). DP - N.C. State 2. LOB - Clemson 15; N.C.
State 7. 2B - M. SMITH(17); CAMP(20); BATES(19). 3B - WIDMANN(2). HBP -
CASANOVA; STILL; MANGINI; CONE. SB - DEMMINK(12); COLVIN(21); HARBIN(8).
Clemson IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
Sean Clark.......... 8.0 4 1 1 1 5 28 30
Drew Fiorenza....... 0.2 3 3 3 0 2 5 7
P.J. Zocchi......... 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1
N.C. State IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
Eric Surkamp........ 4.2 6 4 0 2 4 23 25
Kyle Rutter......... 0.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2
Jason Duncan........ 2.0 2 3 3 2 1 9 11
Travis High......... 0.0 1 1 1 2 0 1 3
Joel Brookens....... 2.1 1 0 0 2 1 7 9
Win - CLARK (1-0). Loss - SURKAMP (2-3). Save - ZOCCHI (1).
WP - SURKAMP(8). HBP - by RUTTER (CASANOVA); by CLARK (MANGINI); by FIORENZA
(STILL); by FIORENZA (CONE).
Umpires - HP: Randy Harvey 1B: Scott Graham 2B: Scott Erby 3B: Steve Manders
Start: 1:07 Time: 2:46 Attendance: 4172
RUTTER faced 2 batters in the 5th.
HIGH faced 3 batters in the 7th.
CLARK faced 1 batter in the 9th.
Game: CU5281
Play-by-Play
2006 Clemson Baseball
#2 Clemson vs #25 N.C. State - Play-by-Play
May 28, 2006 at Jacksonville, FL (Baseball Grounds)
Score by Innings R H E
-------------------------------------------
Clemson............. 000 400 400 - 8 10 0
N.C. State.......... 000 000 004 - 4 7 3
-------------------------------------------
Clemson starters: 3/dh DEMMINK; 8/cf CHALK; 35/3b M. SMITH; 21/lf COLVIN; 4/2b
HARBIN; 24/1b D'ALESSIO; 6/ss WIDMANN; 9/rf MITCHELL; 29/c CASANOVA; 43/p
CLARK;
N.C. State starters: 1/cf CAMP; 3/2b CORONA; 33/1b BATES; 45/dh STILL; 18/rf
ARAGON; 24/lf POND; 25/3b MANGINI; 5/c MANGUM; 23/ss DIAZ; 43/p SURKAMP;
Clemson 1st - DEMMINK grounded out to 2b. CHALK singled up the middle.
M. SMITH reached on a fielder's choice to pitcher; CHALK out at second p to ss.
COLVIN singled to left center; M. SMITH advanced to second. HARBIN popped up to
3b. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
N.C. State 1st - CAMP grounded out to 3b. CORONA flied out to lf. BATES
grounded out to 3b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Clemson 2nd - D'ALESSIO struck out swinging. WIDMANN struck out
swinging. MITCHELL grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
N.C. State 2nd - STILL flied out to cf. ARAGON popped up to ss down the
lf line. POND struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Clemson 3rd - CASANOVA grounded out to 2b. DEMMINK grounded out to ss.
CHALK singled to right field. M. SMITH grounded out to 3b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0
errors, 1 LOB.
N.C. State 3rd - MANGINI grounded out to 2b. MANGUM singled up the
middle. DIAZ flied out to rf. CAMP struck out swinging. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0
errors, 1 LOB.
Clemson 4th - COLVIN singled through the right side. HARBIN flied out to
lf to left center. COLVIN stole second. D'ALESSIO struck out swinging, reached
first on a wild pitch; COLVIN advanced to third on a wild pitch. WIDMANN
singled to shortstop; D'ALESSIO advanced to second. MITCHELL reached on a
fielder's choice to third base; WIDMANN advanced to second; D'ALESSIO advanced
to third; COLVIN scored on a throwing error by 3b, unearned. CASANOVA struck
out swinging. DEMMINK reached on a fielding error by 3b; MITCHELL advanced to
second on the error; WIDMANN advanced to third on the error; D'ALESSIO scored
on the error, unearned. CHALK walked, RBI; DEMMINK advanced to second; MITCHELL
advanced to third; WIDMANN scored, unearned. M. SMITH walked, RBI; CHALK
advanced to second; DEMMINK advanced to third; MITCHELL scored, unearned.
COLVIN flied out to cf. 4 runs, 2 hits, 2 errors, 3 LOB.
N.C. State 4th - CORONA grounded out to p. BATES doubled to left center.
STILL grounded out to ss. ARAGON grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0
errors, 1 LOB.
Clemson 5th - HARBIN lined out to 3b. D'ALESSIO flied out to lf. WIDMANN
tripled to left center. RUTTER to p for SURKAMP. MITCHELL walked. CASANOVA hit
by pitch; MITCHELL advanced to second. DUNCAN to p for RUTTER. DEMMINK grounded
out to ss. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
N.C. State 5th - POND struck out swinging. MANGINI hit by pitch. MANGUM
flied out to lf. DIAZ walked; MANGINI advanced to second. CAMP flied out to rf
down the rf line. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Clemson 6th - CHALK grounded out to ss. M. SMITH doubled to right field.
COLVIN grounded out to 2b; M. SMITH advanced to third. HARBIN intentionally
walked. HARBIN stole second. D'ALESSIO struck out swinging. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0
errors, 2 LOB.
N.C. State 6th - CORONA singled through the right side. BATES reached on
a fielder's choice to shortstop; CORONA out at second ss to 2b. STILL flied out
to rf. ARAGON struck out swinging. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Clemson 7th - WIDMANN singled through the left side. MITCHELL fouled out
to 3b. CASANOVA grounded out to 2b; WIDMANN advanced to second. DEMMINK reached
on a fielder's choice to third base; WIDMANN advanced to third. DEMMINK stole
second. CHALK walked. HIGH to p for DUNCAN. M. SMITH walked, RBI; CHALK
advanced to second; DEMMINK advanced to third; WIDMANN scored. COLVIN singled
through the right side, 2 RBI; M. SMITH advanced to second; CHALK scored;
DEMMINK scored. HARBIN walked; COLVIN advanced to second; M. SMITH advanced to
third. BROOKENS to p for HIGH. D'ALESSIO singled to third base, RBI; HARBIN
advanced to second; COLVIN advanced to third; M. SMITH scored. WIDMANN flied
out to cf to left center. 4 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
N.C. State 7th - POND grounded out to ss. MARTIN pinch hit for MANGINI.
MARTIN popped up to ss to left field. MANGUM popped up to 2b to center field.
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Clemson 8th - MARTIN to 3b. MITCHELL walked. CASANOVA grounded into
double play 3b to 2b to 1b; MITCHELL out on the play. DEMMINK struck out
swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
N.C. State 8th - DIAZ struck out swinging. CAMP flied out to lf. CORONA
popped up to 3b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Clemson 9th - CHALK flied out to cf to left center. M. SMITH walked.
COLVIN reached on a fielder's choice to second base; M. SMITH advanced to
second on a fielding error by 2b, advanced to third on the error. HARBIN
grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b; COLVIN out on the play. 0 runs, 0
hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
N.C. State 9th - HALL to 1b for D'ALESSIO. BATES singled to left center.
FIORENZA to p for CLARK. STILL hit by pitch; BATES advanced to second. ARAGON
struck out looking. SYNAN pinch hit for POND. SYNAN singled through the right
side; STILL advanced to second; BATES advanced to third. CONE pinch hit for
MARTIN. CONE hit by pitch, RBI; SYNAN advanced to second; STILL advanced to
third; BATES scored. MANGUM struck out swinging. DIAZ singled up the middle, 2
RBI; CONE advanced to second; SYNAN scored; STILL scored. CAMP doubled down the
rf line, RBI; DIAZ advanced to third; CONE scored. ZOCCHI to p for FIORENZA.
CORONA struck out swinging. 4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
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