#6 Clemson Downs Maryland 5-0 Sunday

March 25, 2007

College Park, MD –

Tiger Head Coach Jack Leggett picked up career win #1,000 in #6 Clemson’s 5-0 victory over Maryland on Sunday afternoon in front of 729 fans at Shipley Field. Leggett, in his 28th season as a head coach, became the 29th head coach in Division I history to reach the 1,000-win mark.

Clemson improved to 15-7 overall and 4-2 in ACC play. Maryland, who won two of three games in the series, fell to 16-8 overall and 5-4 in the ACC.

Starter David Kopp (3-2) picked up the win, as he pitched a career-high-tying 7.0 innings. The Margate, FL native allowed six hits, no runs, and no walks with five strikeouts. He threw just 82 pitches, 60 of which were strikes. Kopp, D.J. Mitchell, and Daniel Moskos combined to allow six hits, no runs, and no walks with nine strikeouts in facing just three batters over the minimum.

Terrapin starter Kevin Biringer (2-4) suffered the loss, as he allowed five runs (three earned) on 10 hits in 6.0 innings pitched.

The Tigers jumped out to their first lead of the series in the second inning. Andy D’Alessio led off a single up the middle. After Taylor Harbin’s sacrifice bunt advanced D’Alessio to second, Marquez Smith lifted a single to right field to score D’Alessio. The ball got past A.J. Casario in right field, allowing Smith to advance to second. Ben Paulsen followed with a bloop single to center to advance Smith to third. After Alex Burg struck out for out #2, J.D. Burgess lined a single to left-center to plate Smith. Brad Chalk then bounced a single up the middle to plate Paulsen and give the Tigers a 3-0 lead. Chalk extended his streak of reaching base to 49 games with the single.

In the sixth inning, Clemson added to its lead thanks to three Terrapin errors. Paulsen led off with a single through the left side. Burg hit a bouncer to third, but Mike Murphy could not field the ball for an error. Burgess then laid down a sacrifice bunt, but first-baseman Gerry Spessard’s throw to first was low, allowing Paulsen to score. Chalk then reached on a catcher’s interference, Addison Johnson struck out looking for out #2, then the Terrapins elected to intentionally walk D’Alessio to load the bases. Harbin could not up Clemson’s 5-0 lead, as he flied out to right-center.

Clemson, who had 12 hits and left 12 runners on base, was led at the plate by Chalk, D’Alessio, Harbin, Paulsen, and Burgess, who all totaled two hits apiece. Doug Hogan also extended his hitting streak to 10 games. The Tigers had 19 baserunners in the game. The Terrapins, who had six hits, were led by Chad Durakis’ two singles. Maryland was 0-for-10 with runners on base in the contest.

Clemson will return home to play host to Gardner-Webb on Tuesday at 7:15 PM. Leggett will not be at Tuesday’s game, as he will be in Vermont with his father, who is ill.