Third-Ranked Clemson Hits Seven Homers in 26-1 Win Over #22 Wake Forest Thursday

May 18, 2006

Clemson, SC-

Third-Ranked Clemson hit seven homers, including two each by Tyler Colvin and Andy D’Alessio en route to a 26-1 win over #22 Wake Forest in front of 4,501 fans at Doug Kingsmore Stadium Thursday. The Tigers extended their winning streak to 13 games and their ACC-winning streak to 11 games to improve to 41-13 overall and 22-6 in the ACC. The Demon Deacons dropped to 33-18 overall and 16-11 in the ACC.

With the win, the Tigers set the school record for regular-season conference wins in a season with 22. Clemson also clinched at least a share of the ACC regular-season title with the win.

In addition to starters Colvin and D’Alessio, Ben Hall, Alex Burg, and Doug Hogan all hit home runs off the bench for the Tigers. Clemson had a season-high 12 extra base hits, as Herman Demmink, Brad Chalk, Marquez Smith, Colvin, D’Alessio, Stan Widmann, Hall, and Hogan each had multi-hit games. The Tigers totaled a season-high 25 hits on the night. The 26 runs were a season-high and most by Clemson since the Tigers defeated N.C. State 41-9 in 1979. Colvin had a career-high eight RBIs, the most by a Tiger in a game this season.

Brett Linnekohl had a hit and drove in a run for Wake Forest.

Stephen Faris (8-2) faced the minimum in 6.0 innings pitched, allowed two hits, and struck out four to earn the win for the Tigers. Brad Kledzik (5-4) allowed 11 runs on 13 hits in 5.0 innings pitched and took the loss for the Demon Deacons. Kledzik entered the game without surrendering a home run on the season in 69.2 innings pitched, but gave up three to the Tigers on Thursday.

Smith doubled with two outs in the first. Colvin followed with a two-run home run to center to extend his hitting streak to 13 games.

Chalk singled through the left side with one out in the second and moved to second on a groundout by Smith. Colvin singled through the right side with two outs to score Chalk.

Clemson erupted for seven runs in the fourth. Taylor Harbin singled with one out and scored on D’Alessio’s two-run homer to right. Widmann followed with a single through the left side and Adrian Casanova was hit by a pitch. Demmink then singled through the right side to score Widmann and send Casanova to third. Chalk hit a high fly ball to right-center that fell in front of Evan Ocheltree but the centerfielder was able to fire to second in time to retire Demmink on a rare fielder’s choice to the outfield. Casanova scored on the play to give Chalk an RBI. Smith reached on an infield single and Colvin hit a two-run double to left-center that scored Chalk and Smith. Storrer singled through the right side and Colvin slid across the plate with the seventh Tiger run of the inning.

D’Alessio hit the first pitch of the fifth over the fence in right for a solo homer, his 20th long ball of the season. It was his fifth multi-homer game of the season for D’Alessio and seventh of his career.

Chalk reached on an error to lead off the sixth and scored on pinch-hitter Hall’s double to left-center. Colvin then hit a two-run homer to right. It was Colvin’s second home run of the night and 11th of the season.

Matt Antonelli singled to lead off the seventh, but was erased on a fielder’s choice groundout by Ocheltree. Allan Dykstra and Weldon Woodall followed with singles to load the bases. Linnenkohl hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Ocheltree.

Hall led off the seventh with a solo home run to left, his second of the season. D.J. Mitchell was hit by a pitch and Tanner Leggett singled up the middle. Burg followed with a three-run home run to left, the first long ball of his career. Widmann reached on an infield single and Hogan got in on the home run act with a two-run shot to left which was his first career homer as well.

The Tigers added five runs in the eighth, and batted around in four different innings in the game.

Clemson and Wake Forest meet in game two of their three-game series Friday at 7:15 PM at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.