Clemson Downs The Citadel, 9-3

March 24, 2000

CLEMSON, S.C. – Scott Berney allowed just one hit and no runs over his last six innings and Clemson knocked out a season high 16 hits, as the #1 ranked Tigers defeated The Citadel, 9-3, Friday night in college baseball action at Kingsmore Stadium. Clemson improved to 21-3 with the win, while The Citadel fell to 18-7.

It was the second straight year that Berney defeated The Citadel. Last year, while pitching for UCONN, Berney defeated the Bulldogs, 2-1 in a complete game victory. Berney improved to 7-0 this season for the Tigers as he pitched the first eight innings and struck out eight. He allowed just two runs and three hits overall. Dallas McPherson suffered his first loss of the year for The Citadel (5-1). He had gone 18 straight starts without a loss.

The same two teams meet against Saturday night at Kingsmore Stadium at 7:00 PM.

Clemson had 16 hits and five stolen bases in its second straight standout offensive performance. Henri Stanley led the offense with three hits and two stolen bases. Leadoff man Brian Ellis had two hits and two RBIs. Khalil Greene, Jeff Baker, Jarrod Schmidt and Casey Stone all had two hits for the Tigers. Clemson’s pitchers held the Citadel to a season low four hits.

The Citadel began the scoring with a pair of runs in the second inning. Phillip Hartig began the inning with a walk. McPherson, also the starting pitcher, singled to left and both runners moved up a base when Clemson leftfielder Henri Stanley slipped. One out later, David Griffin tripled to right center to drive in two runs.

Clemson scored six runs on seven hits off McPherson, who entered the game with a perfect 5-0 record. The Tigers sent 11 batters to the plate and six scored. Stanley started the inning when he reached first on an error by Tavy Smalls, the starting Citadel second baseman. Jarrod Schmidt and Ryan Riley then singled to load the bases.

Casey Stone, the number-nine batter in the Clemson order then drove in Stanley with an infield out. After Schmidt scored on a wild pitch to tie the score at two, Brian Ellis singled to right center to score Riley and give the Tigers a 3-2 lead.

One out later, Khalil Greene doubled to left to score Ellis and give Clemson a 4-2 advantage. After a single by Michael Johnson, Jeff Baker singled in Greene with the fifth run of the frame. Johnson scored the final run of the inning on a single by Stanley, who had led off the frame.

Clemson put he game out of reach with two more runs inthe seventh. Stanley again started off the uprising with a single. The senior outfielder stole second and moved to third when Jay Morgan threw the ball into centerfield. Stanley then scored on an infield out by Schmidt. Casey then stole second and scored on Brian Ellis single to right center.

Clemson added a ninth run in the eighth on a single by Jeff Baker, a single by Stanley and a balk by Citadel Relief pitcher T.A. Fulmer.