Schaus, Parker Power #15 Clemson Past Wright State 12-6 to Sweep Series Sunday

Feb. 28, 2010

Clemson, SC –

Jeff Schaus went 3-for-3 with a homer and a career-high five RBIs and Kyle Parker added two solo home runs to lead #15 Clemson to a 12-6 victory over Wright State in front of 4,027 fans at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Tigers, who swept the series 3-0, improved to 6-0, their best start since their 13-0 start in 2002. The Raiders fell to 2-5.

Mike Freeman matched Schaus’ hit total by going 3-for-5 with three runs and an RBI, while Brad Miller and Jason Stolz both added two hits, a double, and two runs in Clemson’s 12-hit attack.

Sophomore lefthander Will Lamb (1-0) earned his first career win by tossing 4.0 innings, allowing four hits, one run, and one walk with two strikeouts. He was the first of seven Tigers to pitch in the game. Raider starter Max Friedman (0-1) suffered the loss, as he yielded five runs (three earned) on five hits in 2.0 innings pitched.

The Tigers wasted little time taking the game’s first lead in the first inning. Freeman hit a one-out single to left-center and advanced to second when centerfielder Ryan Ashe booted the ball. Schaus followed with a single through the right side to score Freeman. After John Hinson reached on a fielding error by third-baseman Quentin Cate and John Nester walked to bring home Schaus, giving Clemson a 2-0 lead.

The Raiders responded with a run in the top of the second inning. Cate led off with a single to left field. Two batters later, Garrett Gray singled to left-center, then Jake Hibberd belted a double to center to score Cate. But Gerald Ogrinc hit into a fielder’s choice to third base as Gray was retired at the plate for out #2 and Justin Kopale struck out looking to end the threat.

In the bottom of the second inning, Stolz led off with an infield single and scored on Miller’s double to left-center. After Miller moved to third on Freeman’s groundout, Schaus hit a sacrifice fly on a 3-0 count to score Miller. Parker then blasted a solo homer to left-center.

Freeman led off the fourth inning with a single up the middle and Schaus followed with a two-run homer to right field, his first long ball of the season. Parker then hit a solo homer to left-center, his second home run of the game and third of the season.

In the top of the fifth inning, Kopale led off with a single to right field. Two batters later, Aaron Fields laced a double to left-center to advance Kopale to third. After Tristan Moore was hit-by-pitch, Cate walked to score Kopale. Casey McGrew followed with a sacrifice fly to left to score Fields. After Gray walked to load the bases, Hibberd was hit-by-pitch to plate Moore. But Dominic Leone struck out Ogrinc looking to end the inning and keep the Tigers ahead 8-4.

Clemson answered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Addison Johnson led off with a walk, stole second, and scored on Stolz’s double to right-center. Two batters later, Freeman lofted a single to right-center to plate Stolz and stole second on a failed pickoff attempt. Schaus followed with a single through the right side to score Freeman.

The Tigers added an insurance run in the seventh inning. Miller hit a one-out, bunt single. Then with two outs, Wilson Boyd, Chris Epps, and Hinson all drew walks, with the last plating Miller.

In the eighth inning, Hibberd led off with a double to right-center. Two batters later, pinch-hitter Kody Krizman singled up the middle to score Hibberd.

In the ninth inning, McGrew reached on a one-out, infield single and moved to second on a passed ball. Two batters later, Hibberd lined a two-out single to center to score McGrew.

Wright State, who outhit Clemson 13-12, was led at the plate by Hibberd, who went 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs.

Clemson will host Dayton at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Wednesday at 4:00 PM.