#11 Tigers Tally Season-High 21 Hits to Top Gardner-Webb 14-2 Tuesday

March 27, 2007

Clemson, SC –

In its biggest offensive output of the season, twelve different Tigers had at least one hit and #11 Clemson had at least one hit in every inning, as the Tigers exploded for a 14-2 victory over Gardner-Webb in front of 4,241 fans at Doug Kingsmore Stadium Tuesday night.

The Tigers improved to 16-7, and the Bulldogs dropped to 12-17.

Ben Paulsen was 5-for-5 with a three-run homer and six RBIs. The freshman entered the contest with just one homer and three RBIs in 19 career games. Taylor Harbin was 3-for-6 with two RBIs, and both Alex Burg and David Bunnell hit two-run doubles. Doug Hogan also extended his hitting streak to 11 games.

Sophomore Matt Vaughn (2-0) was the beneficiary of the Tigers’ offensive attack, as he pitched 5.0 innings, allowing five hits, two runs (one earned), and one walk with five strikeouts to earn the win. William Bond, Justin Sarratt, Josh Thrailkill, and Brock Schnabel each pitched a scoreless inning of relief for the Tigers. It was also Bond’s first career outing.

Gardner-Webb starter Wes Cogdill (1-1) suffered the loss, as he allowed seven runs on 10 hits in 3.0 innings pitched.

Gardner-Webb opened the scoring with one run in the first inning. Jamaal Kinard tripled down the right-field line to lead off. Daniel Cooke followed with a groundout to second base that scored Kinard.

The Tigers responded with two runs in the second inning. Hogan singled up the middle, advanced to second on a balk, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on a one-out single to left field by Paulsen. D.J. Mitchell then singled to left field to score Paulsen and put the Tigers in the lead 2-1.

Clemson exploded for five runs in the third. Marquez Smith and Andy D’Alessio led off with back-to-back singles, and Hogan reached on a fielder’s choice to load the bases. Burg doubled down the left-field line to plate both Smith and D’Alessio. Paulsen then blasted a three-run homer to right-center. It was his second home run of the year. Paulsen also got to shake his father Tom Riginos’ hand after rounding third base. Riginos was coaching third in the game, as Head Coach Jack Leggett was in Vermont with his ailing father.

Smith was hit by a pitch to lead off the fourth and scored on a single to center by Paulsen.

The Tigers added to their lead with two runs in the fifth. Addison Johnson reached on a fielding error by second baseman Matt Rizzuto and then stole second. Alex Lee followed with a single through the right side, advancing Johnson to third. It was Lee’s first career hit as a Tiger. Harbin then singled to third base, scoring Johnson. Wilson Boyd came in to pinch hit and singled to the pitcher to score Lee.

Paulsen led off the sixth with a single through the right side and one batter later, Johnson singled to the left side. Harbin also singled to the left side, scoring Paulsen.

In the seventh inning, both Boyd and Burg reached on walks and Paulsen followed with a one-out double that plated Boyd. Bunnell also doubled to score Burg and Paulsen.

Clemson will host Western Carolina Wednesday night at 7:15 PM.