Tigers Fall in Ninth Inning

Pinch-hitter DJ Burns hit a soft single down the right-field line to plate the winning run to give Coastal Carolina a 3-2 win over #21 Clemson Saturday in front of 3,565 fans at Coastal Federal Field.

The Chanticleers (2-1) had tied the score in the eighth inning after the Tigers (1-1) held the lead for the entire game.

Mike Costanzo (1-0), who had the game-tying RBI, earned the win, as he pitched 2.0 scoreless innings with three strikeouts in relief of Jake Hurry, who pitched 7.0 innings and threw 119 pitches. Tiger starter Robert Rohrbaugh allowed only one run on two hits in 5.0 innings, but like last year, he got little run support. Reliever Daniel Moskos (0-1) suffered the loss in his first career outing. Four Clemson pitchers combined to allow just four hits.

For the second day in a row, the Tigers scored in the first inning. But it was the only inning the Tigers could produce any offense. Leadoff batter Brad Chalk was hit by a pitch. After Taylor Harbin traded places after reaching base on a fielder's choice and Travis Storrer walked, the two moved up on a wild pitch. Kris Harvey then laced a single through the left side to plate Harbin. Andy D'Alessio followed with a sacrifice fly to center to give Clemson a 2-0 lead.

After Rohrbaugh pitched the first four innings without allowing a hit, Coastal Carolina finally scratched in the fifth. Michael DeJesus lined his first hit of the season to lead off the frame. After the next two batters were retired, Josh Eachues drew a walk after Rohrbaugh just missed on two, two-strike pitches. Then, #9 hitter Don Duggan laced a single in the right-center gap to plate DeJesus.

The Chanticleers rallied in the eighth inning to tie the score, and in the process made the Tigers pay for squandering many scoring chances, as Clemson left 10 runners on base in the game. Jon Foisy led off with a double to left-center. David Williams dove to make the catch, but could not come up with the ball. Foisy then just beat the relay throw at second base. After Chris Todd was unsuccessful bunting Foisy to third, he moved him over anyway by grounding out to first base. Head Coach Jack Leggett called upon Moskos, a freshman lefthander, to face the Chanticleers' best hitter, Costanzo. Costanzo hit a slow roller off the end of his bat to Herman Demmink at third base, as Foisy broke for home. Demmink decided against throwing home in what would have been a close play at the plate, and instead retired Costanzo at first. However, Foisy's run tied the score 2-2.

In the ninth, DeJesus led off with a walk, and righthander Stephen Faris entered the game. Derek Martin advanced DeJesus to second base on a sacrifice bunt, and Aaron Verrett reached on a controversial play. Verrett hit a soft liner to Demmink at third. Demmink bobbled the ball as he attempted to get the ball out of his glove. After no umpire made an initial call, the three umpires huddled and ruled that it was a "no-catch," however DeJesus did not advance. Then Burns gave the Chanticleers the win by hitting a soft liner that landed a few feet inside the right-field line, scoring DeJesus.

The Tigers will play East Carolina (2-3) Sunday at 4:00 PM at Coastal Federal Field. Clemson will be the visitors.