Clemson Baseball Downs Georgia, 9-7

April 11, 2000

CLEMSON, S.C. – Casey Stone and Henri Stanley each reached base four times and scored three runs apiece, leading Clemson to a 9-7 win over Georgia on Tuesday night at Kingsmore Stadium. The victory increased Clemson to 29-7 for the season, while Georgia fell to 21-14.

It was Clemson’s sixth straight win over Georgia in Clemson. Georgia’s last win at Clemson took place on May 11, 1993. Clemson is now 10-4 against Georgia under Jack Leggett. The victory avenged a 10-6 Georgia win over the Tigers in Athens on March 29th.

Clemson will play host to South Carolina Wednesday night at 7:15 PM at Kingsmore Stadium. The game is a sellout, but Clemson students, faculty and staff may enter the game upon showing a University ID.

Jeff Baker had two hits and drove in three runs for the Tigers. Stone and Stanley each reached base on three walks and a hit, while catcher Brian Ellis reached safely three times on two walks and a hit. Doc Brooks led Georgia with a home run, a single and three RBIs. Jeff Keppinger, Andy Neufeld and Josh Dorminy also had two hits apiece for the Bulldogs. Neufeld had a double and a triple for Georgia.

Clemson began the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Clemson’s first two hitters of the game, Casey Stone and Henri Stanley both walked and scored. After a passed ball sent both runners to third and second, respectively, Jeff Baker’s infield single scored Stone. Third baseman Mark Thornhill threw the ball away at first, allowing Stanley to score on the play.

Clemson made it 3-0 in the third innning on a walk by Michael Johnson and a triple down the right field line by Patrick Boyd.

Georgia did not score off Clemson starter Ryan Childs, until the fifth inning. The freshman pitched a career high six innings, allowed seven hits, four runs, struck out three and walked two. Childs improved his record to 2-1.

The Bulldogs scored a run in the fifth without the benefit of a base hit. Brian Rainwater and Adam Swann led off the inning with walks.

Rainwater advanced to third on a fielder’s choice and scored on a ground out by Thornhill.

Georgia tied the game in the top of the sixth with two runs. Jeff Keppinger singled to center with one out and scored on Doc Brooks 12th home run of the season.

Clemson came right back with three runs in the bottom of the inning. For the second time in the game, Stone and Stanley led off the inning with consecutive walks and later scored. Khalil Greene singled to left to score Stone, sending Stanley to second. Michael Johnson then had a sacrifice to move Stanley and Greene up a base. Stanley scored on a wild pitch, sending Greene to third. Greene then scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman Jeff Baker.

Georgia starter Andy Hussion, the son of Furman University play-by-play broadcaster Chuck Hussion, struck out seven Tigers in the first 2 2/3 innings, but was plagued with control trouble as he walked eight in his five innings of work.

Clemson put the game away with three runs on just one hit in the bottom of the eighth, the second time in the game Clemson had three runs on just one hit. For the third time in the game Stone and Stanley led off the inning with consecutive walks and then scored. Michael Johnson singled to score Stone with the seventh run then Johnson and Stanley advanced a base when Adam Swann booted the ball in right field. Baker then hit a sacrifice fly to score Stanley. Johnson later scored on a wide pitch.

Georgia came back with two more runs in the top of the ninth and both runs were scored after two were out. Jeff Keppinger walked and scored on a single by Doc Brooks and an error by Casey Stone. Brooks then scored on a double by Andy Neufeld. Nick Glaser came on in relief of Additon and recorded his 10th save when he got Brian Rainwater to fly out.