Baseball Wins ACC Opener

March 20, 1998

CLEMSON, S.C.--Ryan Mottl struck out 13 and Brian Holstad had a pinch single in the bottom of the eighth to give the Tigers the lead for good in fifth-ranked Clemson’s 5-3 victory over Maryland in ACC baseball action at Tiger Field. Clemson improved to 22-3 overall, 1-0 in the ACC, while Maryland fell to 4-12-1 overall, 0-6 in the ACC. The same teams meet against Saturday at 2:00 PM.

Clemson trailed 3-2 heading into the bottom of the eighth against Maryland starter and hard luck loser Brandon Agamennone (1-4). Derek Borgert started the inning with an infield single. Casey Stone, a pinch hitter, then attempted a sacrifice bunt, but Terp third baseman Mike D’Archangelo threw the ball over first baseman Jared Vogt’s head into the right field corner. Borgert came all the way around to score and Stone ended up at third.

Holstad, pinch-hitting for Justin Singleton, then singled to left to give Clemson a 4-3 lead. Clemson added a third run in the inning on a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded by Kurt Bultman.

Mottl pitched eight innings for Clemson and struck out 13, including eight on called strikes. He allowed three runs and walked three. It was his sixth win of the year against no losses. Mottl, first-team All-ACC a year ago, is now 10-0 since last April 6. Scott Clackum picked up the save for Clemson, his sixth of the year.

Leading the Tigers at the plate was Jason Harris, who had three hits and an RBI. Kurt Bultman had two hits and an RBI. His double in the first was Clemson’s only extra base hit.

Maryland was led by Scott Bronowicz, who had a pair of doubles, and Jason Schlegel, who had a pair of singles and drove in a run. Casey Trout had two hits and scored a run and knocked in a run.

Maryland scored one run apiece in the forth, fifth and sixth innings off of Mottl. Bronowicz doubled in a run in the fourth, Trout had an RBI single in the fifth, and J.R. Thomas singled home a run in the sixth, a hit that gave Maryland a 3-2 lead.