Clemson Defeats Ohio University 17-4 Behind Baker’s Blasts

March 11, 2001

CLEMSON, S.C. – Sophomore third baseman Jeff Baker had two home runs, including his second grand slam of the season, to lead Clemson to a 17-4 victory over Ohio University Sunday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium before 2,967 fans.

The game also saw the return of senior center fielder Patrick Boyd, who has been sidelined with a stress fracture in his back. Boyd went 1-3 on the day with a double and scored two runs, including the Tigers’ first run of the game in the second inning.

Ohio took a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning after the Bobcats loaded the bases on starter Ryan Childs. Cory Keylor’s ground out scored a run and an error by reliever Thomas Boozer scored another run.

Clemson responded in the bottom of the inning. Casey Stone’s RBI single was followed two batters later by a three-run homer from Baker to give the Tigers a 5-2 lead. In the sixth inning, pinch hitter Russell Triplett knocked in two runs with a single to center field and shortstop Khalil Greene followed with a two-run single of his own to make the score 9-2.

The Tigers put the game away in the eighth inning. Baker’s towering grand slam was followed by a three-run home run by Jon Smith. Smith’s homer was the first of his career and sent Bobcat reliever Sean Hutcheson to the bench without recording an out.

Baker went 4-4 on Sunday with 7 RBI to cap a week in which he went 9-11 with nine RBIs and three runs scored. He now has seven home runs this season.

Boozer (1-0) picked up the win for Clemson while Ohio’s Denny McGee (2-1) got the loss. Clemson moved to 10-4 on the season while Ohio dropped to 3-4.

The Tigers will host Georgia Southern for a two-game set Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday’s game will be the first night game of the season with the first pitch scheduled for 7:15 PM Wednesday’s matchup will begin at 3:00 PM.