The Tigers, who took a 1-0 series
lead, improved to 6-2 overall and 1-0 in ACC play. The Tar Heels
dropped to 8-2 overall and 0-1 in the ACC. It was Clemson's first
win over the Tar Heels since 2005 and snapped North Carolina's
four-game winning streak in the series.
In Clemson's first game at North Carolina since 2004, the Tigers took
a 4-0 lead in the second inning only to see the Tar Heels score three
runs in the bottom of the second. After the Tar Heels tied the score
in the seventh inning, the game went into extra innings, where
Clemson used two walks and a single to set up Sanders' go-ahead
sacrifice fly in the 10th inning. It was also Clemson's first road
game and third extra-inning game of the season.
Cruz (1-1) earned his first win as a Tiger, as he pitched 3.0 innings
in relief, allowing one hit, no runs, and no walks with two
strikeouts. Harman was also effective out of the bullpen, as he
pitched a career-long 4.1 innings, allowing just one hit, one run,
and one walk with three strikeouts. The two Tiger relievers combined
to allow only two hits, one run, and one walk with five strikeouts in
7.1 innings pitched. Tar Heel Reliever Brian Moran (0-1) suffered
the loss despite pitching 3.1 solid innings with five stikeouts.
The Tigers' three North Carolina natives on the travel roster all
played a part in the victory. Sanders (New Bern) went 2-for-4 with a
double and the game-winning RBI. Wilson Boyd (Hickory) walked in the
10th inning and came around to score the winning run. Addison
Johnson (Pfafftown) added a hit, RBI, and two key putouts in
centerfield, including one in the 10th inning on a hard-hit ball.
After the Tigers got out of a jam in the first inning, Clemson scored
four runs in the second inning thanks in part to five consecutive
hits, three of which went for extra bases. Kyle Parker led off with
a line-drive single to center. Jeff Schaus followed with a two-run
homer to center, his first long ball of the season. Sanders then
lined a double to left-center and John Nester laced another double to
right field, advancing Sanders to third. Johnson's infield single
plated Sanders and Brad Miller moved the runners up a base with a
sacrifice bunt. Nester then scored on Mike Freeman's groundout,
giving Clemson a 4-0 lead.
The Tar Heels answered with three runs in the bottom of the second
inning. Garrett Gore led off with an infield single and Mark Fleury
walked. After Tarron Robinson struck out for out #1, Mike Cavasinni
lined a single to left to load the bases. Ryan Graepel's sacrifice
fly to right-center moved all three runners up a base. Ben Bunting
then grounded a two-out single through the left side to score Fleury
and Cavasinni.
After four scoreless innings, Levi Michael blasted a long solo homer
in the seventh inning to tie the score 4-4. It was his third long
ball of the season.
In the top of the 10th inning, Boyd drew a one-out walk and went to
second on Parker's single to left-center. Schaus walked to load the
bases, then Sanders lofted a 1-2 pitch to right field for a sacrifice
fly that scored Boyd, giving Clemson a 5-4 lead.
In the bottom of the 10th inning, Dustin Ackley laced a one-out
single up the middle. Kyle Seager followed with a line drive, but
Johnson made a running catch for out #2. Cruz then retired Gore on a
flyout to center to end the game.
The Tigers, who outhit North Carolina 9-7, were led at the plate by
Parker and Sanders, who both had two hits. Bunting led the Tar Heels
with two singles and two RBIs.
Clemson and North Carolina will play game-two of the three-game
series at Boshamer Stadium on Saturday at 2:00 PM.
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