#17 Tigers Take Series With 10-1 Victory Over Duke Sunday

April 5, 2009

Box Score |  Photo Gallery 1  |  Photo Gallery 2 

Clemson, SC –

Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Clemson, who won the series 2-1, improved to 20-10 overall and 9-6 in the ACC, while the Blue Devils dropped to 20-11 overall and 7-8 in ACC play. The Tigers also moved into first place in the ACC Atlantic Division standings ahead of both Boston College (7-6) and Florida State (7-6), who are tied for second place.

Leggett, in his 16th season as the leader of the Tiger program, upped his record at Clemson to 700-319-1. He also owns a 1,077-609-1 record in his 30th season as a college head coach.

Tiger starter Chris Dwyer (3-2) pitched 6.0 effective innings to earn the win. The Swampscott, MA native allowed just four hits, one run, and no walks with five strikeouts. He allowed a triple to lead off the game, then retired the next 11 Blue Devils. He also did not allow a runner past first base after the leadoff triple.

Duke starter Ryan Knott (2-1) suffered the loss, as he yielded two hits, five runs, and four walks with three strikeouts in 2.1 innings pitched. Four Blue Devil hurlers combined to walk nine batters and hit two more, while four Tiger pitchers combined to not walk or hit any batters.

Meanwhile, the Tigers received plenty of offensive support with 11 hits. Ben Paulsen went 3-for-3 with a double and three RBIs. Mike Freeman added two hits, two runs, and two walks, while Jason Stolz totaled two hits and two RBIs.

Like the night before, Duke wasted little time taking the game’s first lead in the top of the first inning. Alex Hassan led off with a triple to right-center. Two batters later, Nate Freiman hit a sacrifice fly to left-center to score Hassan.

Clemson put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the first inning. Jeff Schaus drew a two-out walk after being down in the count 0-2. After moving to second on a wild pitch, Schaus scored on a double to left-center by Paulsen.

In the third inning, the Tigers plated four runs to take a 5-1 lead. Freeman led off with a walk and advanced to second on Addison Johnson’s sacrifice bunt. After Schaus walked on four pitches, Paulsen singled to center on an 0-2 pitch to score Freeman. Kyle Parker was hit-by-pitch to load the bases, then Brad Miller lined a single down the right-field line to plate Schaus and Paulsen. Wilson Boyd’s fielder’s choice then scored Parker.

Clemson added two runs to its lead in the fourth inning. Stolz and Freeman led off with infield singles. Two batters later, Schaus blooped a double down the right-field line to score Stolz. Paulsen followed with a sacrifice fly to left to score Freeman.

In the fifth inning, pinch-hitter Matt Sanders lined a one-out single to left and moved to second on Phil Pohl’s walk. Two batters later, Freeman reached on an infield single to load the bases and Johnson followed with a walk to score Sanders, giving Clemson an 8-1 lead.

Clemson continued its onslaught in the sixth inning. With two outs and no runners on base, Miller and Sanders drew walks, then Pohl loaded the bases with a hit-by-pitch. Stolz followed with a line-drive single to right to score Miller and Sanders.

Jake Lemmerman had a team-high two hits for Duke, who accumulated eight hits in the game.

Clemson will travel to Columbia to take on South Carolina on Tuesday at 7:00 PM. It will be the Tigers’ first-ever game at Carolina Stadium.