Clemson Earns Season Sweep Of WCU With 13-4 Victory

by Press Release - Wed Apr 26 22:58:28 GMT-04:00 2000

ASHEVILLE, N.C --- Casey Stone went 3-for-5 with four runs batted in as No. 6 Clemson defeated Western Carolina, 13-4, in non-conference baseball action at McCormick Field Wednesday night. The Tigers win the season series from the Catamounts for the first time since 1996, 2-0.

Clemson (36-10) plated three runs in the top of the first as WCU starter Jared Burton (2-4) issued a free pass to the first two batters. Khalil Greene singled to left field, loading the bases. Michael Johnson and Patrick Boyd were both bit by a pitch, scoring two runs. Henri Stanley then grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, allowing a run to score.

The Tigers increased their lead to 5-0 in the top of the third. Green led-off the frame with his second single of the day. Mike Calitri, who replaced Michael Johnson at first in the bottom of the second, hit a two-run homer to left with one down. It was his fourth home run of the season.

Western (12-33) added a single run in the fifth. Morgan Frazier reached on an error to leadoff the frame and moved to third on double off the left field wall by Jeremy Hamrick. Charlie Wands then lifted a sacrifice fly to right field scoring the Cats' first run of the night.

Bradley LeCroy scored in fourth and then again in the sixth inning to give the Tigers a 7-1 advantage, leading off each inning with a double. LeCroy was 3-for-5 with four runs scored.

The Catamounts trimmed the lead to four with two nuns in the sixth. Charles Thomas started the inning with his third single of the night and moved to third on a double into the right field corner by Austin Smithwick. Thomas scored on passed ball. Thomas finished 3-for-4 with a run scored.

Tiger starting pitcher Ryan Childs (4-1) earned his fourth win of the season, tossing six innings, giving up three runs - one earned - on five hits, while striking out four.

Clemson gained its biggest lead of the night in the top of the seventh. Casey Stone doubled off the center field wall driving in his second and third runs of the night- Stone singled home another run in the ninth as the Tigers plated three runs in their final at bat.

Matt Price bit a pinch-hit home run, his second of the season, in the bottom of the ninth to end the scoring.

The Catamounts used five pitchers on the night with Burton, tossing three innings, receiving his fourth loss of the season. Senior Aaron Kirby also pitched three innings for the Catamounts.

Clemson has 94 hits in its last six games and is hitting .381 over that span. The Tigers, who were at .282 six games ago, are now hitting .298.

Clemson will return to action at #5 Georgia Tech this weekend beginning Friday at 7:00 PM.