Clemson Claims 13-2 Win Over Oregon State In Las Vegas Finale

Feb. 26, 2001

LAS VEGAS, NV – No. 10 Clemson stormed out to a 6-0 lead and cruised to a 13-2 win over Oregon State Sunday to wrap up the trip to Las Vegas with 3-2 record. The game was called after the seventh inning because of the 10-run rule agreed upon by the coaches before the game.

Clemson, now 5-3 on the year, jumped on the board first in the top of the second inning. Oregon State starter Mark McLemore walked Jeff Baker and then allowed back-to-back base hits by Chad Coder and Jarrod Schmidt. Kyle Frank grounded into a double play to the second baseman, but Baker crossed the plate to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

The Tigers did not score again until putting up five runs in the fourth inning. Baker and Coder each boarded on walks and then Frank doubled to score Baker. Ryan Riley hit a line drive past a diving Josh Howard in center fielder that rolled all the way to the wall for a three-run inside-the-park home run to give Clemson a 6-0 lead.

Clemson added two runs in each the fifth and sixth innings and then scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning before allowing the only two Oregon State (6-5) runs in the bottom half of the seventh inning. The Beavers needed two more runs to avoid the run rule.

Tiger starter Steve Reba made it through four innings without surrendering a hit, giving up his only charged hit to the first batter of the fifth inning. He walked two and struck out four of the 17 batters he faced. Paul Harrelson and Josh Cram each pitched an inning, each allowing one hit. Cram allowed the two Beaver runs, but both were unearned on a pair of Riley errors after moving from second base to short stop in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Riley more than made up for his error with his offense though, going 3-4 with four RBIs and three runs scored. He had a single in the third inning, an inside-the-park home run in the fourth inning and added a double in the sixth. He walked in the seventh in place of a triple that would have completed the cycle. Kyle Frank was also 3-4 for the Tigers with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored. He had two singles and a double.

Clemson next hosts Furman on Wednesday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium at 3:00 PM before next weekend’s home and away series with South Carolina.