#22 Clemson Sinks Wake Forest 6-1 in Game-Two of Doubleheader Friday

March 13, 2009

Clemson, SC –

Kyle Parker went 3-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs to lead #22 Clemson to a 6-1 victory over Wake Forest in game-two of a doubleheader at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Friday afternoon. The Tigers, who took a 2-0 series lead, improved to 10-4 overall and 3-2 in ACC play, while Wake Forest dropped to 7-7 overall and 0-5 in the ACC.

Parker, who was 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs in the first game of the doubleheader on Friday, went 6-for-9 with two homers, three runs, and six RBIs on the day. The last time Parker played against the Demon Deacons in Winston-Salem in 2008, he went 5-for-5 with three homers, five runs, and seven RBIs in the series-finale. Therefore in his last three games against the Demon Deacons, Parker is 11-for-14 (.786) with five homers, eight runs, and 13 RBIs.

The Tigers, who outhit Wake Forest 13-10, were also paced by freshman designated hitter Richard Mounce, who went 3-for-4 with an RBI in just his second career start. Mike Freeman added three hits and two runs as well. Micah Jarrett had two hits and the Demon Deacons’ lone RBI.

Sophomore lefthander Casey Harman (2-1), who was making just his third career start and first of 2009, pitched a career-high 6.1 innings, allowing one run and no walks with four strikeouts to record the win. Harman along with relievers Scott Weismann, and Matt Vaughn limited Wake Forest to only one hit in 14 at-bats with runners in scoring position, as the Demon Deacons stranded 11 runners on base.

Wake Forest starter Austin Stadler (2-2) suffered the loss despite pitching 6.1 solid innings. He allowed just one earned run and one walk with four strikeouts.

After both teams squandered scoring opportunities in the first two innings, the Tigers scored two runs in the third inning thanks to three Demon Deacon errors. Ben Paulsen reached on a one-out fielding error and went to third on Parker’s single to center. Paulsen was safe at third on the play and scored when centerfielder Micah Jarrett’s throw went into the Wake Forest dugout. Two batters later with two outs, Parker scored when Matt Sanders reached on third-baseman Carlos Lopez’s fielding error.

The Demon Deacons mounted a rally in the top of the seventh inning. Steven Brooks led off with a bunt single and scored on Micah Jarrett’s double to center. Jarrett advanced to third base on the play when the throw to home got away from catcher Phil Pohl. With Jarrett on third and no outs, Clemson retired the next three Demon Deacons without allowing the tying run.

The Tigers responded with three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Freeman led off with a double down the left-field line. Two batters later, Parker blasted a two-run homer to left-center, his second long ball of the day and season. Jeff Schaus then reached on an error, stole second, and scored on Mounce’s two-out double off the glove of Brooks in left field.

Clemson added an insurance run in the eighth inning after the first two batters of the frame were retired. Freeman started the rally with a single through the right side and Paulsen walked. Parker followed with a line-drive single up the middle to plate Freeman.

Clemson and Wake Forest will conclude the three-game series at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Saturday at 2:00 PM.