#6 Virginia Downs #4 Clemson 7-6 Sunday to Sweep Series

March 13, 2011

Clemson, SC –

Steven Proscia went 4-for-5 with a homer, double, and three RBIs to lead #6 Virginia to a 7-6 win over #4 Clemson in front of 4,009 fans at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Cavaliers, who upped their winning streak to 10 games with the three-game sweep, improved to 16-1 overall and 3-0 in the ACC. The Tigers, who suffered their first three-game sweep at home since 2008, dropped to 7-6 overall and 0-3 in ACC play.

The Cavaliers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, then the Tigers responded with four runs in the second inning to take the lead. But Proscia’s two-run homer in the third inning gave Virginia the lead for good and Clemson could not capitalize on several scoring opportunities late in the game, as the Tigers stranded 10 runners on base, including seven in scoring position. The Cavalier pitching staff also limited Clemson to two hits in 17 at-bats with runners in scoring position and overcame four Virginia errors to record the one-run victory.

Corey Hunt (1-0), the second of seven Cavalier pitchers, earned the win. He pitched 1.2 scoreless innings with a strikeout. Branden Kline allowed a run on two hits in 2.0 innings pitched to record his seventh save of the year and second of the series. The seven Virginia hurlers combined for 12 strikeouts and 201 pitches in the game.

Tiger starter David Haselden (1-1) suffered the loss, as he yielded six hits and five runs (four earned) in 2.1 innings pitched. Jonathan Meyer closed out the game with a career-long 5.0 innings pitched. He allowed just three hits, no runs, and two walks with two strikeouts.

The Cavaliers grabbed the game’s first lead in the first inning. Chris Taylor lined the first pitch of the game through the left side for a single and went to second on Keith Werman’s sacrifice bunt. Werman also reached on the bunt thanks to a Tiger error. John Hicks followed with a single through the left side to score Taylor. Werman advanced to third base on Danny Hultzen’s lineout to left-center and scored on Proscia’s single through the left side. Kenny Swab then lined a single to center to score Hicks.

In the second inning, Chris Epps led off with a walk and John Hinson laced a single through the right side on the 11th pitch of his at-bat to score Epps. Two batters later, Will Lamb hit a potential inning-ending, double-play grounder, but Werman booted the ball at second and all runners were safe, including Hinson, who scored the tying run. Jeff Schaus followed with a sacrifice fly to left field to score Wilkerson, who was also making his first career start.

The Cavaliers regained the lead in the third inning. Hultzen hit a one-out single through the right side and Proscia followed with a two-run homer to left field, the Cavaliers’ first long ball of the season.

Virginia added to its lead in the fifth inning. Hicks led off with a single through the left side, stole second, and scored on a bad-hop single by Hultzen that bounced over first-baseman Richie Shaffer’s head. After Proscia lined a single to left field, both runners moved up a base on a steal, then Hultzen scored on a wild pitch. Swab reached on a hit-by-pitch and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Proscia was retired between third and home when he tried to score on David Coleman’s grounder to Shaffer. After John Barr walked to load the bases, the Tigers avoided further damage when Reed Gragnani grounded into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.

The Tigers rallied in the sixth inning. Attanasio reached as the leadoff batter on an error by Taylor. Lamb reached on an infield single, then both runners moved up a base on an error on the play. Schaus followed with a hard grounder headed for centerfield, but it bounced off Kyle Crockett’s lower body and Schaus was retired 1-4-3 as Attanasio scored. With Lamb on third base, Crockett struck out the next two Tigers to keep the Cavaliers ahead 7-5.

In the ninth inning, Shaffer led off with a double over the third-base bag and moved to third base on a wild pitch. Kieboom’s groundout to third scored Shaffer, but Kline struck out Hinson to end the game.

Proscia had a game-high four hits to lead Virginia, who outhit the Tigers 12-8. Taylor went 3-for-4 with a double and walk, while Hicks and Hultzen added two hits and two runs apiece. Five Cavaliers accounted for the team’s 12 hits.

Lamb went 3-for-5 with a double and RBI to lead the Tigers at the plate. Schuas added a team-high two RBIs and a double. Junior shortstop Brad Miller missed the second game of his career due to a broken finger suffered against Virginia on March 11. The injury will require at least two weeks to heal.

Clemson will travel to Fluor Field in Greenville, SC to face Presbyterian College on Wednesday at 7:00 PM.