Tigers Down Devils, 8-5

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DURHAM, N.C. -- No. 6 Clemson jumped out to a 5-0 lead and held off a

late Duke rally to defeat the Blue Devils 8-5 Saturday at Jack Coombs

Field. The victory drops Duke to 4-13 in the ACC and 14-31 overall

while Clemson improves to 10-4 in the ACC and 34-10 overall.

Clemson scored three runs in the first and two runs in the second

inning to take a 5-0 advantage. Casey Stone led off the first with a

bunt single and Khalil Greene walked. Jeff Baker’s single to left field

drove home Stone, Patrick Boyd drove in two on a single to right field. The Tigers added two more runs in the second on Ryan Riley’s two-run triple off the left-field wall. The triple was Riley's fifth of the season.

Clemson freshman righthander Jarrod Schmidt (7-0) earned the victory after throwing the first 6.2 innings and allowing six hits and two runs. He struck out

five batters. Schmidt, who leads the ACC in ERA at 2.29, has earned the victory in seven consecutive outings. Mike Proto earned his first career save after throwing the final 2.2 innings.

Duke first got on the scoreboard in the fifth inning on Larry

Broadway’s two-run home run to rightfield.

Clemson scored a run in the sixth on Steve Pyzik’s sacrifice fly. The

Tigers added two insurance runs in the ninth inning on Khalil Greene’s

RBI single and Casey Stone’s RBI double.

Down 8-2 in the bottom of the ninth, Duke rallied with with three runs

in the ninth on Larry Broadway’s two-run double to right center and

Kevin Kelly’s RBI single.

Larry Broadway led Duke with a 3-4, double, home run and four RBI

performance. Kevin Kelly finished 2-5 with an RBI. Duke starter Kevin

Perry (3-5) pitched the first two innings and allowed five hits and four

runs for his fifth loss of the season.

Clemson was led at the plate by Casey Stone’s 3-4, two run, RBI day.

Ryan Riley went 1-5 with two RBI, Patrick Boyd went 2-4, with two RBI

and Bradley LeCroy went 2-3.

Game three of the three-game series is Sunday at 1 p.m. at Jack Coombs

Field. Tiger skipper Jack Leggett has a career record of 699-412 entering Easter Sunday's game.

                    R H E

Clemson 320 001 002 8 11 0


Duke    000 020 003 5 8  1

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