Clemson Baseball Downs Florida Atlantic 6-5

March 3, 1998

CLEMSON, S.C. – Matt Padgett drove in the winning run with a ground out in the bottom of the ninth, and Clemson defeated Florida Atlantic 6-5 at Tiger Field Tuesday afternoon. The victory was Clemson’s 10th in succession and elevated Clemson’s record to 13-1 for the season. Florida Atlantic fell to 8-9.

The same two teams meet at Tiger Field Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 PM. Please note the time change from 3:00 PM.

Patrick Boyd led the Clemson offense with three hits in four at-bats, including his third home run of the year, a shot to left center in the bottom of the first. Padgett had a pair of hits and two RBIs, while DH Justin Hyde had two hits for the Tigers, who overcame a 5-4 deficit with one in the bottom of the eighth and one in the bottom of the ninth.

Brian Adams started for the first time in his career and went five innings for the Tigers. He allowed three runs and seven hits, but was not involved in the decision. Reliever Scott Clackum got the win, his second of the season. Todd Moser went the distance for Florida Atlantic, allowing 11 hits and six runs. He struck out five and walked six.

The game featured four lead changes, including Clemson’s bottom of the ninth heroics. Boyd started the winning rally in the ninth with a single. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kurt Bultmann. After Jason Harris was walked intentionally, Peter Nystrom earned a walk to load the bases.

That brought up Padgett with one out. With Florida Atlantic playing at double-play depth, Padgett hit a grounder in the hole between first and second. Florida Atlantic second baseman Dickie Hart had no shot at throwing out Boyd at the plate. Instead, he threw to first to get Padgett, but the winning run scored and the game ended.

Clemson had tied the game in the bottom of the eighth. With two out, catcher Derek Borgert singled. Casey Stone came in to pinch run and moved to second when Justin Hyde walked. Stone then scored on a two-out single by Doug Roper, Clemson’s number-nine hitter in the order.

Florida Atlantic had taken a 5-4 lead with two runs in the top of the eighth on a two-run homer by Brian Dodge, his fourth of the year. Mick Celli and Dodge led Florida Atlantic at the plate with four hits apiece. Ed Bou also homered for Florida Atlantic, his first of the year