Not So Super

Up three runs with 12 outs to go and star pitcher Daniel Moskos on the mound is usually a surefire remedy for success for the Clemson baseball team. But on this particular day, it wasn’t.

Mississippi State scored eight runs scattered over the fifth, sixth and seventh innings erase a three-run deficit and take Game 1 of the Super Regional 8-6 over Clemson Friday afternoon in front of a record crowd of 12,620 at Dudy Noble Field.

The Bulldogs (37-20) lead the best-of-three series 1-0. Game 2, which could be the season finale for the Tigers (41-22) is Saturday at noon.

“We got ourselves the lead that we needed and just didn’t do what we needed to do in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings,” Clemson coach Jack Leggett said. “Those middle three innings just got us. We’ll have to be tough tomorrow, no question, to win.”

After first baseman Andy D’Alessio hit a two-run shot and shortstop Taylor Harbin immediately followed him with a solo blast of his own, Clemson went into the bottom of the sixth with a 5-2 advantage.

But the junior Moskos, who was drafted Thursday by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the fourth overall selection, was unable to maintain the lead for one of the few times this season.

Moskos gave up a leadoff double, a single, a two-run homer and a double to the first four batters he faced in the sixth to even things at 5-5.

That was followed by an error by second baseman J.D. Burgess, which put runners at first and third with no outs with pitcher Stephen Clyne on the mound. He induced the next hitting into a double play, but the runner still scored from third to give Mississippi State the lead for good.

The Bulldogs added two more runs in the seventh to take an 8-5 lead.

Doug Hogan managed to hit a solo home run in the ninth, but that’s as close as Clemson would get.

D’Alessio’s home run was his 17th of the season and ties him with Jeff Baker for the school’s all-time lead with 59. He is now also just one home run away from tying Michael Johnson for most all-time home runs by a Tiger in the NCAA Tournament with nine.

Of his 17 home runs, 14 have come in the last 28 games. He had just three in his first 35.