Clemson Baseball Defeats Duke 7-5

April 18, 1999

CLEMSON, S.C. –Clemson rallied with five runs in its final two at bats to come from behind and defeat Duke 7-5 in college baseball action on Sunday afternoon in Clemson.

Clemson won two of three games in the series and improved to 23-17, 5-6 in the ACC. Duke falls to 21-22 and 2-11 in the ACC. Reliever Doug Roper (1-0) earned his first career win for the Tigers, while Duke reliever Teddy Sullivan (0-2) took the loss.

With the score tied 5-5, Bradley LeCroy led off the eighth inning with a single. Pinch hitter Casey Stone, tried to advance LeCroy with a bunt, but struck out. With Patrick Boyd at the plate, LeCroy stole second. The throw from Duke catcher Ed Conrey ended up in centerfield and allowed LeCroy to advance to third. Duke centerfielder Gideon Thompson bobbled the errant throw from Conrey and LeCroy moved home to score the game winning run. Clemson’s Patrick Boyd walked and later scored on a fielder’s choice by Derek Borgert to make the final score 7-5.

Clemson scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the score. Two of the runs were scored on an RBI double by Khalil Greene. Greene came into the game one for his last 14, but finished the day 3-4 with three RBIs.

Two Clemson records were tied in the game. Senior Kurt Bultmann tied Gary Burnham’s career doubles record of 77 with two in the contest. Bultmann’s second one of the day was an RBI double in the seventh inning to help the Tigers tie the game at four.

Jason Harris tied the school record for walks in a game with five. Harris was 0-0 with two runs scored and a stolen base. Harris tied Doug Livingston who walked five times versus Coastal Carolina on March 3, 1996.

Duke jumped ahead early with one run in the first inning when Vaughn Schill scored on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Caradonna. The Blue Devils added two runs in the fifth thanks in part to a lead off triple off the bat of David Mason. Duke added one run apiece in the sixth and eighth innings.

Mason finished the game 2-4 with one run and one RBI. Schill was also 2-4 with two runs scored.

Clemson will host in-state rival South Carolina on Wednesday night beginning at 7:15 p.m. at Tiger Field. It will be the Gamecocks only appearance at Tiger Field this season. Secretaries and Administrative Assistants can receive free admission when accompanied by a supervisor or employer who is paying full price.