Clemson Defeats Wake Forest 13-6 Friday Night

March 26, 2004

Clemson, SC – Clemson scored four runs in two different innings en route to a 13-6 victory over Wake Forest Friday night. With the win, the Tigers improved to 10-10 on the season and 1-0 in ACC play. The Demon Deacons fell to 11-12 overall and 1-3 in the ACC. Clemson’s Jason Berken improved to 4-1 on the season with the win, allowing only three unearned runs in seven innings. The outing was the longest for a Tiger pitcher this year and the longest of Berken’s career. Tony Sipp recorded the save, his first of the season. Kyle Young suffered the loss for Wake Forest.

Catcher Lou Santangelo was 3-3 for the night with two walks, three runs scored and two RBIs. He improved to 9-12 in three games this week. Outfielders Tyler Colvin and Kris Harvey each had two hits and first baseman Andy D’Alessio hit a three-run homer for the Tigers.

Clemson jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Santangelo led off the inning with a triple to deep center field. Harvey followed with a home run over the left field fence. D’Alessio walked and then scored when John Ingram doubled to right center field. Ingram advanced to third on Russell Triplett’s ground ball to the shortstop. Garrick Evans plated Ingram with a groundout to short.

The Demon Deacons scored three runs in the top of the third inning to cut Clemson’s lead to 4-3. Matt Miller led off with a double down the left field line. Casey Sterk then hit a ground ball back to the pitcher. Berken then threw away a grounder, allowing Miller to score and Sterk to reach second base. Sterk advanced to third on a wild pitch. Nick Blue and Matt Antonelli both walked, and Blue and Sterk scored on Steve LaFaivre’s single up the middle.

The Tigers added three runs in the bottom of the third inning for a 7-3 advantage. Brad McCann started the inning with a single to center field and Santangelo followed with a walk. D’Alessio then hit a homerun to left field, his second of the season, plating McCann and Santangelo.

Clemson scored two more runs in the seventh inning. Santangelo walked for the second time in the game. Harvey followed with a single to right field. Santangelo scored when the right fielder mishandled the ball and Harvey advanced to third on the play. Harvey then scored on a wild pitch.

Wake Forest tacked on two runs in the top of the eighth inning. Ben Ingold and Lafaivre both singled off of Tiger pitcher Steven Jackson and scored on Brad Scioletti’s single to right center field.

The Tigers added four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to increase their lead to 13-4. All runs were unearned as the Demon Deacons made three errors in the inning. Triplett, Evans and Herman Demmink reached on errors by the second baseman, right fielder and first baseman, respectively. Triplett scored on Demmink’s botched ground ball down the first base line. After Zane Green flew out to the left fielder, McCann was intentionally walked to load the bases. Evans scored and McCann and Demmink advanced to second and third on a passed ball. Santangelo plated the runners with a single to right center field.

Game two of the series will be played Saturday afternoon at 4:00 pm at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Fans will be able to purchase tickets for the April 7 game against South Carolina at Saturday’s game, while tickets remain. Reserved seats are $15 and will be on sale at the left field ticket booth.