#19 Tigers Pound Out 15 Hits in 17-2 Win Over UNC Asheville Wednesday

March 4, 2009

Clemson, SC –

The #19 Clemson Tigers pounded out 15 hits in a 17-2 win over UNC Asheville Wednesday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. It was Clemson’s largest margin of victory since 2006. The Tigers improved to 5-2 and the Bulldogs dropped to 2-7.

Clemson scored 12 runs in the first three innings, including seven in the first two innings, all with two outs. The Tigers scored in six of the eight innings in which they batted. The game saw 16 pitchers used, including nine by UNC Asheville.

Clemson reliever Justin Sarratt (1-0) earned the win for the Tigers, as he pitched one inning and gave up one hit and one unearned run. UNC Asheville starter Taylor Wohlwend (1-3) took the loss for the Bulldogs, as he gave up four runs on four hits with three walks in one inning.

Clemson scored four runs in the first inning, all after there were two outs and no runners on base. Ben Paulsen started the rally with an infield single and Wilson Boyd followed with another infield single. After a Kyle Parker walk, Paulsen scored on a Jeff Schaus walk. On a full count, John Nester then hit another liner over the second baseman to score Schaus and give Clemson a 4-0 lead.

Brad Miller walked in the second inning for the second time in the game. After a Miller stolen base, Paulsen walked and Boyd hit into a fielder’s choice to retire Paulsen and advance Miller. After Boyd stole second, Parker hit a single down the left-field line to score both runners. Parker then stole second and Schaus drove him in with a single through the right side to give Clemson a 7-0 lead.

Sanders led off the Clemson third by reaching on an error and Nester followed with a single through the left side. Mike Freeman plated both runners with a triple to the right-field corner. Miller walked and moved up on a wild pitch, which plated Freeman. Addison Johnson followed with a walk and Paulsen singled up the middle to score Miller. After a Boyd walk, Parker hit a sacrifice fly to score Johnson and give Clemson a 12-0 lead.

UNC Asheville got on the board with two runs in the fourth inning. Beau Zinman started the inning by reaching on a hit-by-pitch. After advancing to second on a wild pitch and a Cody Buch walk, Danny Baatz singled to shortstop. A throwing error on the play allowed Zinman to score and Buch to advance to third. Austin Graham then plated Buch on a fielder’s choice.

Clemson added a run in the fourth inning. After Freeman’s one-out walk, Miller singled to right-center. Johnson plated Freeman on a fielder’s choice, giving the Tigers a 13-2 lead.

Clemson added two runs in the sixth inning on back-to-back singles by freshman Will Lamb and Paulsen. The single by Lamb was his first hit as a Tiger.

The Tigers scored two more runs in the seventh on a fielding error and a sacrifice fly by Paulsen.

Ten different Tigers tallied a hit, led by Paulsen, who went 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Schaus, Jason Stolz, and Nester each had two hits apiece. Clemson struck out only once and walked 14 times, the most by Clemson in a game since 1999. The Bulldogs, who had four hits in the game, were led at the plate by Mike Vaughn (2-for-3).

Clemson will be back in action this weekend when it travels to Chapel Hill for the first time since 2004 to play #2 North Carolina at Boshamer Stadium in the ACC opener for both teams. Games times are 3:00 PM on Friday, 2:00 PM on Saturday, and 1:00 PM on Sunday.