Clemson Hangs On For 7-6 Win Over N.C. State In Game One

May 5, 2001

RALEIGH, N.C. – Jeff Baker and Khalil Greene hit home runs to spark Clemson to a 7-6 ACC victory in front of 1,177 fans at Doak Field.

Baker, a sophomore from Woodbridge, VA, gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead on his 18th home run of the season. The shot over the fence in right-center field was his 29th career homer, which tied him with Matthew LeCroy for home runs by a Tiger in his freshman and sophomore seasons.

N.C. State tied it up in the bottom of the second inning. After a single by Jamey Shearin, David Hicks sent a line drive past Clemson first baseman Michael Johnson that skidded down the right field line for a triple that scored Shearin.

Greene broke the 1-1 tie in the top of the fourth inning with his eighth home run of the season which he hit high off the scoreboard in deep left-center field. Clemson then added three runs in the fifth inning thanks to a triple by left fielder Casey Stone that scored Chad Coder and Ryan Riley and a sacrifice squeeze by Kyle Frank that brought home Stone. Coder was hit by a pitch and then Riley singled.

The Wolfpack countered with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning on a three-run jack by Sean Walsh to pull within 5-4, but Clemson again extended its lead to 7-4 with two runs in the top of the sixth. Khalil Greene, Coder and Riley all doubled in the inning with RBIs from Coder and Riley.

Jeremy Dutton hit a double to right field that scored Joe Gaetti who led off the inning with a single. Dutton advanced to third base on a fielding error by right fielder Kyle Frank and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Walsh.

Steve Reba got the win to improve to 9-3 after he pitched 6 1/3 innings scattering eight hits while only allowing four runs, three earned. Derek McKee got the loss to fall to 3-3 on the year after lasting 5 2/3 innings giving up seven earned runs on eight hits.

Coder led the Tigers with a 2 for 3 performance. Baker, Green and Ryley also had multiple hits for Clemson. Stone led the team with two RBIs on his triple in the fifth inning.

Clemson and N.C. State will play the second game of a day-night doubleheader Saturday night at 7:00 PM and will conclude the series Sunday at 1:00 PM. Both games will be broadcast on the Clemson Tiger Network.