Clemson Completes Sweep of Purdue |
Clemson, SC-Steven Jackson, Jeff Hahn and Paul Harrelson combined to
limit Purdue to just two runs, and a fifth inning Purdue error proved to be costly in Clemson's 4-2 victory over the Boilermakers Sunday afternoon at Kingsmore Stadium. The victory improved Clemson's record to 10-0, while Purdue, ranked 27th in the nation in the preseason Collegiate Baseball poll, fell to 2-8. The victory completed a three-game sweep of the series for the Tigers, who will play host to Georgia Southern on Tuesday and Wednesday at 4:00 PM. Clemson has now opened the season 10-0 for the first time since 1992 when Clemson opened the year with 17 straight victories. Jackson was the starter and winner for Clemson, improving his record to 2-0. He allowed two runs and six hits before leaving in the sixth. Hahn inherited a two on and no out situation in the sixth with Clemson leading just 3-2. Hahn struck out pinch hitter Wilson James, then got Brad Kriner to ground into a double play to end the inning. Hahn, who had given up five earned runs in two innings entering the contest, then got the Boilermakers out in order in the eighth. Paul Harrelson pitched the last 1 and 2/3 and picked up his fifth save in five opportunities. He faced five Purdue batters and retired them all, three on strikeouts. Clemson was led at the plate by Khalil Greene, who had three of Clemson's six hits. Michael Johnson had a walk and a single to drive in a run. Russell Triplett had the only other RBI for Clemson. Purdue took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third. Kriner led off with a single to center and went to second on a single by shortstop Mitch Koester. Two outs later, Nick McIntrye singled to right to score Kriner with the game's first run. Purdue, who finished second in the Big Ten last year, made the count 2-0 with a run in the fifth. Koester opened the inning with a walk. He moved to second on a stolen base and scored on a single by left fielder Adam Fazio. Down, 2-0, the second-ranked Tigers took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Michael Johnson, who had hit 12 home runs in his last 15 games over two years, started the uprising with a walk. He moved to second on a single to center by right fielder Jarrod Schmidt. That brought David Slevin, Clemson's leading hitter entering the game with a .500 average, to the plate. He attempted a sacrifice bunt, but third baseman John Gusich threw wide at first, allowing Johnson and Schmidt to score. Sleven advanced to third on the throw and scored one out later on a single to left by Russell Triplett. Clemson added an insurance run in the sixth. With two out, Jeff Baker walked and then stole second. Johnson then delivered a bloop single over second base to score Baker, giving Clemson a 4-2 advantage. Purdue had two runners on in the eighth with one out, but Harrelson shut the door with two strikeouts.
Purdue 2 (2-8)
Saturday's Game:
CLEMSON, SC - Clemson jumped out to a 9-1 lead and held on after a
one hour and 20 minute rain delay for a 9-6 victory over Purdue. The
Tigers (9-0) used a big fifth inning to grab a commanding lead and
hold off the Boliermakers (2-6).
Purdue scored a run in the top of the first inning off of Clemson
starter Matt Henrie (2-0), but the junior righthander settled down
and pitched six innings, allowing only two hits, for the victory. An
RBI single by Jeff Baker in the bottom of the inning and RBIs by
Jarrod Schmidt and Robert Valiente in the fourth gave Clemson a 3-1
advantage before the big fifth inning.
David Slevin singled, Khalil Greene doubled and Baker walked to load
the bases for Michael Johnson. The junior sent a the ball deep over
the fence in center field for his seventh home run of the year. The
first baseman has now homered in four of his last five games. Schmidt
followed Johnson with a shot that bounced off the scoreboard in right
field and chased Purdue starter Dustin Glant (0-1). A sacrifice fly
by Slevin later in the inning capped Clemson's scoring and gave the
Tigers the 9-1 lead.
Rain started to pour down in the seventh inning and the game was
delayed with the bases loaded and one out for the Boilermakers.
Purdue scored four runs in the inning after play was resumed one hour
and 20 minutes later. Purdue threatened a rally in the ninth inning
and scored a run before closer Paul Harrleson ended the game and
picked up his fourth save of the year.
The two teams will square off at 1:00 PM on Sunday in the series
finale. Clemson will send sophomore righthander Steven Jackson (1-0)
to the mound while Purdue counters with sophomore righhander Mitch
Pruemer (1-0).
Purdue 6 (2-7) Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB Underwood, D rf 3 1 1 3 1 2 3 0 0 Fazio, Adam dh 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Klink, Simon dh 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 McIntyre, Nick 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 Manuel, John 2b 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 Harrell, David c 4 1 1 0 0 2 4 0 0 Luce, Kris 1b 2 1 0 0 2 1 9 0 1 Gusich, John 3b 3 1 0 0 1 1 0 4 1 Rempel, Andy lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Correll, M lf 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 Kriner, Brad cf 4 1 1 0 0 1 4 0 0 James, Wilson ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Koester, Mitch ss 3 0 1 1 0 0 1 4 1 Glant, Dustin p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Helbling, Jason p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Herman, Josh p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals...... 30 6 5 5 5 9 24 11 5 Clemson 9 (9-0) Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB David Slevin 2b 4 2 3 1 0 1 0 3 0 Kyle Frank cf 5 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 Khalil Greene ss 5 1 2 0 0 1 3 4 1 Jeff Baker 3b 4 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 Michael Johnson 1b 3 2 1 4 1 0 10 2 1 Jarrod Schmidt rf 4 2 2 2 0 0 4 0 1 Jeff Hourigan dh/p 3 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 Robert Valiente lf 3 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 Collin Mahoney c 3 0 0 0 1 1 9 1 1 Matt Henrie p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 Tyler Lumsden p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Paul Harrelson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals...... 34 9 11 9 5 4 27 13 7 Score by Innings R H E ------------------------------------------- Purdue.............. 100 000 401 - 6 5 0 Clemson............. 100 260 00X - 9 11 1 ------------------------------------------- E - HENRIE. DP - Clemson 1. LOB - Purdue 5; Clemson 7. 2B - Kriner; Koester; GREENE; BAKER. HR - JOHNSON; SCHMIDT. HBP - Correll. SH - McIntyre. SF - Underwood; SLEVIN. SB - SLEVIN; JOHNSON. Purdue IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP Glant, Dustin 4.1 9 8 8 2 3 22 24 84 Helbling, Jason 0.0 0 1 1 3 0 0 3 15 Herman, Josh 3.2 2 0 0 0 1 12 13 33 Clemson IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP Matt Henrie 6.0 2 1 0 1 6 19 21 75 Tyler Lumsden 0.0 1 4 4 3 0 1 4 19 Jeff Hourigan 2.1 2 1 1 1 2 9 11 45 Paul Harrelson 0.2 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 6 Win - HENRIE (2-0). Loss - Glant (0-1). Save - HARRELSON (4). WP - Glant; Helbling; HENRIE. HB - HOURIGAN. BK - HENRIE. Umpires - Home:Billy Pittman 1st:Brian Hale 2nd:Paul Nauert Start: 2:03 pm Time: 2:45 Attendance: 3188 Game notes: Game was delayed due to rain at 4:10 pm with one out in the top of the 7th. Game was resumed at 5:30 pm. Helbling faced 3 batters in the 5th. LUMSDEN faced 4 batters in the 7th.
Upgrade Your Account
Unlock premium boards and exclusive features (e.g. ad-free) by upgrading your account today.
Upgrade Now
