Clemson Avenges Earlier Loss to Western Carolina With 5-3 Victory Tuesday

April 1, 2003

Clemson, SC- Clemson used 10 singles to score four of its five runs with two outs in a 5-3 victory over Western Carolina in front of 3,083 fans at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Tuesday. The Tigers (20-6) improved to 15-0 at home this season and earned their 32nd consecutive home win over Western Carolina. Clemson also won its 103rd consecutive game when leading after eight innings (dating back to the beginning of 2001). The loss dropped the Catamounts to 20-10 overall.

Steven Jackson (3-1) earned the win for the Tigers after pitching 7.0 innings, giving up only two earned runs off of seven hits. Paul Harrelson came on in the ninth to earn his fourth save of the season. Joe Camac (1-2) was credited with the loss for the Catamounts.

The Catamounts scored first in the second inning. Rod Goldston singled up the middle, stole second, and scored on a single by Brandon McDowell.

Western Carolina took a 2-0 lead in the fourth when Todd Buchanan hit his ninth home run of the season. It was his second homer against Clemson this year and third in his career against the Tigers. Last season, the senior first baseman was 4-for-4 with a homer and six RBI’s in a 13-9 loss to the Tigers at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

The Tigers took the lead in the fifth inning. After the first two batters were retired, Herman Demmink and Zane Green both singled, followed by Russell Triplett’s walk. With the bases loaded, Brad McCann hit a two-run single through the left side to give the Tigers a 3-2 advantage. McCann increased his team-leading RBI total to 31.

Western Carolina tied the score in the sixth inning. Goldston reached on a fielding error by Triplett, stole second, and scored on Denver Edick’s double to left field.

Pinch hitter David Slevin put the Tigers back on top in the sixth with a single to center driving in Ryan Hub. Hub reached on a base on balls and advanced to second on a single by Brady Everett.

Clemson added another run in the seventh when Johnson, moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored on Kyle Frank’s single to center.

Clemson travels to Columbia on Wednesday to take on South Carolina. First pitch is scheduled for 7 PM at Sarge Frye Field.