Boyd’s, Tigers’ Explosive Third Inning Helps #13 Tigers Complete Sweep of Mercer 10-3 on Sunday

Feb. 24, 2008

Clemson, SC –

Wilson Boyd highlighted a nine-run third inning with two home runs and red-shirt freshman Graham Stoneburner pitched 5.0 scoreless innings to lead #13 Clemson to a 10-3 victory over Mercer on Sunday afternoon in front of 4,064 fans at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

The Tigers improved to 3-0 after completing the sweep, while the Bears fell to 0-3. Clemson scored 28 runs in the series, 16 of which came in the three combined third innings.

In his first outing as a Tiger, Stoneburner (1-0) pitched 5.0 scoreless innings, surrendering only three hits and one walk while striking out three to earn the win. The Richmond, VA native red-shirted last season after suffering a torn ACL during the preseason.

Mercer starter John Hoelzer (0-1) suffered the loss, surrendering nine runs on 10 hits while walking two and striking out two.

Boyd went 2-for-4 with two homers and four RBIs to lead the Tigers, who pounded out 12 hits. Three other Tigers had multiple hits, including Stan Widmann, John Hinson, and J.D. Burgess. John Dortch was 2-for-3 with two RBIs to lead Mercer at the plate.

The Tigers scored all but one of their runs in the third inning. Boyd highlighted the offensive onslaught in the third with a solo homer and three-run home run, both to right field. It was just the fourth time in school history that a Tiger hit two homers in one inning. The last to do so was Kyle Frank at Maryland in 2003. Coincidentally, the three previous times were against Maryland.

Clemson also had doubles by Doug Hogan and Kyle Parker in the third inning. Hogan extended his hitting streak to 18 games with the two-bagger.

The Bears found the scoring column in the seventh inning. Mike Armstrong led off with a walk and Billy Shaughnessy followed with a single to shortstop. With two outs, Casey Stuart singled to right field to plate Armstrong and put the Bears on the board. Dortch followed with a triple to right-center, scoring Shaughnessy and Stuart to bring the Bears within six runs.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, freshman John Nester blasted his first career home run, a two-out, solo shot to left-center.

Clemson will return to action on Wednesday to play host to High Point at 4:00 PM at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.