#7 Tigers Outlast Hokies 5-2 in First Game of Doubleheader Saturday

March 20, 2010

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Clemson, SC –

Sophomore lefthander Will Lamb tossed 6.0 strong innings, allowing just one unearned run, to lead #7 Clemson to a 5-2 win over Virginia Tech in the first game of a doubleheader at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Saturday. The Tigers, who took a 2-0 series lead, improved to 16-2 overall and 5-0 in the ACC. Virginia Tech fell to 13-7 overall and 2-3 in ACC play.

Lamb (2-0) earned the win in 6.0 innings of work in a starting role. The Seaford, VA native allowed seven hits, one unearned run, and two walks with two strikeouts. Alex Frederick pitched 3.0 innings in relief, allowing three hits and one run to record his second save of the year.

Hokie starter Jesse Hahn (4-1) suffered the loss, as he yielded 10 hits, four runs (three earned), and one walk with two strikeouts in 5.1 innings pitched.

The Tigers dented the scoreboard with two runs on four singles in the first inning. Brad Miller led off with a single to left-center but was retired when Mike Freeman’s sharp grounder hit Miller on what would have been a single through the right side. Jeff Schaus followed with a single through the right side to move Freeman to third, then Freeman scored on a passed ball. Two batters later, Wilson Boyd fisted a single to right-center to score Schaus.

In the third inning, Miller led off with a single to right and stole second. Then with two outs, Kyle Parker laced a single through the right side to score Miller.

A Tiger miscue allowed the Hokies to put a run on the scoreboard in the fourth inning. Anthony Sosnoskie and Michael Seaborn hit one-out singles. Two batters later with two outs, Tony Balisteri hit a routine grounder to Miller at shortstop. But Miller booted the ball, allowing Sosnoskie to score from second. Mike Kaminski’s walk loaded the bases, but Clemson escaped further damage when first-baseman Richie Shaffer caught Sean Ryan’s pop-up near the Tiger dugout.

The Tigers increased their lead in the sixth inning when Parker led off with an opposite-field, solo home run to right field, his ninth long ball of the season. It was Parker’s 35th career home run, moving him into a tie for 10th place in the Clemson recordbook in that category. It was also the first homer allowed by Hahn in 2010.

In the top of the eighth inning, Ronnie Shaban drew a one-out walk and went to second on Balisteri’s groundout. Pinch-hitter Matt Blow followed with a two-out single to right to score Shaban, cutting Clemson’s lead to 4-2.

Clemson added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Schaus led off with a single through the right side and went to third two batters later when Boyd singled through the right side on a hit-and-run. John Hinson’s sacrifice fly to left plated Schaus.

After the first two Hokies were retired in the ninth inning, Steve Domecus doubled down the left-field line and Sosnoskie followed with a walk to bring the potential tying run to the plate. Seaborn then hit a line drive to center, but Addison Johsnon made a sliding catch for the final out.

Miller, Schaus, Parker, and Boyd all had two hits apiece to pace Clemson’s 12-hit attack.

Domecus went 3-for-5 to lead Virginia Tech, who had 10 hits in the game. However, the Hokies stranded 13 runners on base in the game, including nine in scoring position.

Clemson and Virginia Tech will play the second game of the doubleheader and series-finale on Saturday at 6:30 PM.