Baseball Sets National Title in Win over Maryland

March 21, 1998

CLEMSON, SC–Clemson established a national record for runs scored in a third inning and went on to defeat Maryland, 19-6 in college baseball action Saturday afternoon at Clemson. The fifth-ranked Tigers improved to 23-3 overall and 2-0 in the ACC, while Maryland fell to 4-13-1 overall, 0-7 in the ACC. The same two teams meet Sunday afternoon at 2:00 PM at Tiger Field.

Clemson scored all 19 of its runs in the third inning. It was the fifth time this year Clemson scored double figures in one inning.

The run total broke the previous third-inning national record of 17 runs held by Houston, against Prairie View on Feb. 18, 1987. The 19 runs scored were a Clemson record regardless of the inning and tied the ACC record regardless of inning. North Carolina scored 19 against Seton hall in the fifth inning on March 3, 1990. Clemson’s 19 runs set an ACC record for runs scored in a game involving two ACC teams. Clemson scored 18 in a ninth inning against NC State in 1979.

Clemson’s third frame took 38 minutes to play. It included 12 hits, six walks and two Maryland errors. Twenty-three Tigers came to the plate. Tiger centerfielder Patrick Boyd and second baseman Kurt Bultmann each scored three runs in the inning. Bultmann had five RBIs in the frame on a two-run single and a three-run homer.

Overall, Clemson had five extra base hits in the frame, three doubles and two home runs. After a leadoff ground out, the next 17 Tigers who came to the plate scored. At one point Maryland pitchers had four consecutive walks and three Tigers scored runs on those walks. Clemson played 16 position players in the game. Only DH Justin Hyde played the entire game for the Tigers.

Matt Padgett, and Justin Hyde had two hits apiece in the inning. Boyd reached base three times in the frame on two singles and a walk. Clemson’s hit total for the inning (12), tied a national record for hits in a third inning. UNLV also had 12 hits in a third inning against US International on May 2, 1981.

For the day, Bultmann had five RBIs and three runs scored, all in the third inning. Jason Harris had a third inning homer and had three RBIs to go with two hits. Justin Hyde was the only Clemson player with three hits in the game, the Tigers DH also had two RBIs and two runs scored. Derek Borger had a pair of hits and three RBIs.

Mike Paradis was the starter and winner for Clemson and he improved his record to 4-0. He went the first six innings and allowed just two hits. Jamie Hammond was the starter and loser for Maryland.

Maryland was led offensively by J.R. Thomas, who had two runs and scored two runs, and Chris Blue, who had two hits and an RBI.