Baseball Downs North Carolina, 6-3

April 27, 2001

Clemson, S.C. – Khalil Greene slugged a two-out three-run home run in the sixth inning to key Clemson to a come-from-behind 6-3 victory over North Carolina in ACC baseball action Friday night at Kingsmore Stadium. The victory improved Clemson’s record to 30-16 overall 11-5 in the ACC. The Tar Heels fell to 26-22 overall, 6-13 in the ACC.

North Carolina took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Adam Greenberg opened the game with a walk, then moved to second on a stolen base. Two outs later Ryan Blake walked. Jason Howell followed with a single that scored Greenberg with the game’s first run. Jeremy Cleveland then followed with a two-out single to left that scored Blake from second base.

North Carolina made it 3-0 with a run in the fifth. Russ Adams and Sean Farrell had leadoff singles against Clemson starter Jarrod Schmidt, who allowed three runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings of work. Blake then sacrificed both runners up. Howell followed with a sacrifice fly to centerfield.

Trailing 3-0, and showing just one hit in five innings off North Carolina starter Ralph Roberts, the Tigers finally got the bats going. Casey Stone led off the frame with a two-strike bunt single down the third-base line. One out later Jeff Baker walked. After Michael Johnson grounded out, Greene came to the plate with a chance to tie the contest with one swing.

North Carolina Coach Mike Fox went to his bullpen and brought on Kevin Brower. The Clemson shortstop quickly tied the game with his sixth home run of the season, a blast over the left field fence.

Clemson was not finished in the sixth. Chad Coder singled up the middle and moved to second when Ryan Riley walked. Jarrod Schmidt, who was by now was out of the game as a pitcher, but remained in the game as a DH, singled to load the bases. Steve Pyzik then hit a ground ball to shortstop Chad Prosser, who committed an error, allowing Coder to score the lead run.

The Clemson rally took the life out of North Carolina offensively, as the Tar Heels had just three base runners and two hits the last three innings of the contest. Meanwhile, Clemson added a pair of insurance runs. Jeff Baker belted a home run to right center in the seventh, his team best 15th of the season. The Tigers added another run in the eighth on a walk, a double by Schmidt and a squeeze bunt by Steve Pyzik.

Clemson relief pitcher Nick Glaser was outstanding in relief, as the senior shutout out the Tar Heels over the final 2 1/3 innings. He earned his first save of the year. Thomas Boozer got the win in relief and improved to 2-0 for the season. Kevin Brower was the loser in relief.

Schmidt, who did not bat until the sixth inning, was the only Tiger with two hits. Baker had the home run and reached safely twice in walks. North Carolina was led at the plate by Russ Adamms and Sean Farrell who had two hits apiece.