Clemson Falls to Virginia 7-3 in ACC Tournament Opener

May 16, 2001

FORT MILL, SC – Seventh-seeded Virginia used a complete game by Dan Street and a three-run homer by Joe Benick to upset second-seeded Clemson 7-3 in the first round of the ACC Tournament on Wednesday. The Tigers dropped to 37-19 while Virginia improved to 25-29.

Street (4-4) picked up the win by allowing just two earned runs while throwing 126 pitches in the complete-game effort. Benick’s home run, his 18th of the year, was part of a 3-5 day that led the Cavalier offense.

Clemson looked to score first with two outs in the second inning after singles by Jarrod Schmidt and Kyle Frank and a walk by Michael Johnson. Street induced a Steve Pyzik ground out to get out of the jam.

Virginia exploded for four runs in the third inning. David Stone walked to lead off the inning and Shawn McCleary reached on Ryan Riley’s error. The runners advanced on a wild pitch by Tiger starter Matt Henrie and Stone scored on Hunter Wyant’s single to left field. Benick then cleared the bases with his three-run home run down the left field line to give the Cavaliers an early 4-0 lead.

Clemson threatened again in the bottom of the fourth. Khalil Greene was hit by a pitch for the 20th time this season to lead off the inning and advanced to third two batters later when Johnson singled to right field. The runners were stranded however after Chad Coder’s strikeout and Kyle Frank’s fly out.

The Tigers finally got on the board in the fifth inning when Steve Pyzik led off with a double and Ryan Riley’s walked. Both runners scored when Casey Stone doubled to left field and he advanced to third on an errant throw. Stone scored on Greene’s sacrifice fly to trim the Cavalier lead to 4-3.

Virginia extended its lead in the eighth inning. Doug Vroman singled and moved to second base after a sacrifice bunt. David Stone was intentionally walked and Shawn McCleary reached on an infield single to load the bases. Wyant then hit a bloop single to left-center field that scored two runs and gave the Cavaliers a 6-3 lead. Word hit a solo home run in the ninth inning to make the final margin 7-3.

Schmidt had a single and a double and was the only Tiger with more than one hit. Henrie (5-3) picked up the loss for the Tigers after giving up four runs in 4.1 innings.

Clemson will play the loser of the Wake Forest-North Carolina game Thursday at 1:30 p.m. in an elimination game. The game will be broadcast on the Clemson Tiger Network.