#18 Tigers Blank Blue Hose 8-0 Tuesday

March 17, 2009

Clemson, SC –

Graham Stoneburner, Will Lamb, and Craig Gullickson combined to pitch a five-hit shutout in #18 Clemson’s 8-0 win over Presbyterian at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Tuesday night. The Tigers, who won their sixth game in a row, improved to 12-4, while the Blue Hose dropped to 2-13. It was the first meeting between the two teams at Clemson since 1950 and the first-ever meeting at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Stoneburner (2-2) tossed 6.0 innings, allowing just two hits and one walk with seven strikeouts to earn the win. Lamb pitched 2.0 scoreless innings, then Gullickson closed out the game with a scoreless ninth inning. Blue Hose starter Will Freeman (0-1) suffered the loss, as he allowed five runs on six hits in 6.2 innings pitched.

The Tigers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Mike Freeman drew a one-out walk and went to third on Ben Paulsen’s double to right-center. Kyle Parker followed with a hard grounder to third-baseman Jared Combs, who attempted to retire Freeman at home. But Freeman slid under the tag as Parker reached on the fielder’s choice. Jeff Schaus then singled up the middle to score Paulsen and Matt Sanders’ double down the left-field line plated Parker.

Paulsen led off the third inning with a home run down the right-field line, his third long ball of the season.

In the sixth inning, Chris Epps hit a one-out triple that fell when centerfielder Cory Lyda lost the ball in the evening sky. John Nester followed with a sacrifice fly to left to score Epps, giving Clemson a 5-0 lead.

The Tigers added three insurance runs in the eighth inning thanks in part to a Blue Hose miscue. Schaus led off with a walk and Richard Mounce then bounced a single up the middle past a drawn-in infield to score Stolz and Epps.

Paulsen paced Clemson’s eight-hit attack with three hits, including a home run, double, and two runs. Jesse Harmon had two of Presbyterian’s five hits.

Clemson will play host to USC Upstate at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Wednesday at 6:30 PM.