Baylor Defeats Clemson 7-1 to Force Deciding Game on Monday at 1:00 PM

June 12, 2005

Waco, TX (AP) – Mark McCormick struck out 10 and scattered five hits to lead Baylor to a 7-1 win over Clemson in an NCAA super regional Sunday.

McCormick (8-3) threw a career-high 137 pitches in his 8 1-3 innings. The victory evens the series at 1-1 with the final game set for Monday at 1:00 PM EST.

“The first time through the lineup, I threw almost all first-pitch fastball,” McCormick said. “After that, I mixed it up and went to my slider because it worked.”

Jeff Mandel went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and scored a run for Baylor (43-22).

The Bears took a 3-1 lead with Mandel’s two-out, opposite-field home run in the fourth. Baylor added two runs in the fifth. Josh Ford singled and scored on a triple off the center field wall by Reid Brees. Brees scored when shortstop Stan Widmann misplayed Kevin Russo’s ground ball.

“I really didn’t think it was gone, but the wind switched direction,” Mandel said. “We had our backs to the wall, and we wanted to get on them early today.”

Paul Witt scored on a bunt by Chase Gerdes and Ford singled to score Michael Griffin in the sixth.

Clemson’s only run came in the third on an RBI infield single by Taylor Harbin.

Josh Cribb (8-5) took the loss for Clemson (43-22), giving up 12 hits and allowing seven runs. He struck out five.

“We couldn’t get much going today,” Clemson coach Jack Leggett said. “Their guy had command of all his pitches.”