Baseball Splits Doubleheader With Virginia

May 1, 1999

CLEMSON, S.C. – Patrick Boyd capped off a 4-6 night by delivering a game winning RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning to give Clemson a 5-4 win and a split with Virginia in a doubleheader at Tiger Field on Saturday. The Cavaliers won the first game 9-3.

Clemson is now 28-18 overall and 9-7 in the ACC, while Virginia is 19-31 and 8-14 in the ACC.

Reliever Chris Heck (2-0) picked up the win for Clemson, while Kevin Shrout (2-5) took the loss. Brandon Creswell (6-6) picked up the win for the Cavaliers in game one. Clemson starter Ryan Mottl (2-5) only gave up one earned and struck out four in 6.1 innings, but took the loss.

With two outs in the bottom of the 11th, Henr Stanley drew a walk and stole second base to move into scoring position. Boyd’s hit up the middle got past the outstretched arms of Virginia shortstop Tim LaVigne to allow Stanley to score the game winner.

Virginia started the scoring with two runs in the first inning and a home run to left field in the second inning off the bat of Dan Street. Street’s home run was a shot that cleared the left field fence with room to spare. However, it was the only earned run that Clemson starter Mike Paradis gave up in the game as the junior right-hander went 8.0 innings.

Clemson scored one run apiece in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings to tie the score at 3-3. Stanley led off the fourth with a triple and scored on a double by Boyd. Justin Singleton singled with two outs in the fifth and stole second base. He scored on a single by Bradley LeCroy. Boyd opened the sixth with his second double of the game and scored on a single by Jason Harris.

The Tigers took the lead in the bottom of the eighth when Kurt Bultmann scored on a sacrifice fly by Khalil Greene that was actually caught in foul territory in right field.

Virginia answered with a run in the ninth to knot the score at four. Street led off the inning with a single and Ryan Kalamaya followed with a walk. Chris Heck came on in relief of Paradis and threw a wild pitch that allowed both runners to advance one base. Street would score on a ground out to second base by LaVigne to force the game into extra frames. The Cavaliers came close to scoring the go ahead run when Jon Benick delivered a deep fly ball to center field, but Boyd was able to make the catch and end the inning.

In the first game, Kalamaya hit an eighth inning grand slam to left field off Clemson reliever Doug Roper to blow open a 4-3 lead. Earlier in the game, Virginia took the lead in the third inning with three runs, but Clemson tied the score in the fourth. After Virginia retook the lead in the sixth, Kalamaya delivered his shot and the Cavaliers added another run in the top of the ninth to make the final score 9-3.

Creswell pitched a complete game giving up three runs on nine hits while walking three and striking out six for the Cavaliers.

Clemson and Virginia will meet in the series finale on Sunday at 1:15 p.m. Senior citizens presenting their AARP cards will receive free admission, while children 12-and-under will be allowed to stand with their favorite Tiger player during the national anthem.