Clemson Defeats Old Dominion 5-1 On Saturday Afternoon

March 8, 2003

Clemson, SC – The 18th-ranked Clemson baseball team defeated Old Dominion 5-1 on Saturday afternoon at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The Tigers (7-3) have won the first two games of the three-game series against the Monarchs (5-7).

Freshman righthander Jason Berken (1-0) earned the victory for the Tigers, striking out six and walking one in 5.1 innings pitched in his first career start. Ricky Shefka (1-3) suffered the loss for Old Dominion with four strikeouts and one walk while giving up one earned run in pitching the second straight complete game by a Monarch hurler.

Clemson put two runs on the board in the bottom of the third inning. Designated hitter Kris Harvey reached on an error by the Monarch’s third baseman. Herman Demmink then singled to right field, moving Harvey to second. Harvey advanced to third and Demmink to second on a balk by Shefka. Zane Green hit a ground ball to the shortstop that scored Harvey. Then, on an 0-2 pitch, Russell Triplett hit a single up the middle to score Demmink.

The Tigers scored two more runs in the fifth inning. Demmink singled up the middle and Green hit a ground ball to second base which was misplayed, moving Demmink to second. Triplett was out on a ground ball that advanced Demmink to third and Green to second. Brad McCann. McCann ripped the first pitch to left field for a single, scoring Demmink and Green. Demmink went 3-for-3 and scored two runs after going 1-for-11 to start his collegiate career.

Ryan Hub hit a solo homer in the eighth inning to increase the Tigers lead to 5-1. It was Hub’s first career homer.

Old Dominion put a run on the board in the sixth inning. Evan Chipman led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Brent Sollenberger then singled to right field, scoring Chipman.

The Tigers and the Monarchs will meet in the final game of the three-game series Sunday afternoon at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.