Clemson Holds Off Maryland 3-2 Friday

April 2, 2004

Clemson, SC- Clemson improved to 4-0 in the ACC with a 3-2 victory over Maryland Friday night in front of 2,974 fans at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The win was the sixth in a row for the Tigers, who improved to 15-10 overall. Maryland fell to 13-13 (2-5 in the ACC) with the loss.

Jason Berken (5-1) pitched 6.0 flawless innings to earn the win. He gave up just three hits and struck out seven. Berken extended his streak of not allowing an earned run to three games and 19.0 innings pitched. Patrick Hogan worked the final 1.1 innings to earn his sixth save of the season. Maryland starter Chris Clem (2-3) suffered the loss, despite going the distance in a solid effort for the Terrapins. Clem gave up only one earned run in the game.

Kris Harvey and John Ingram were both 2-4 for the Tigers. Harvey had Clemson’s only extra-base hit, a homer in the first inning. Clemson had nine singles in the game, leaving nine on base. Will Frazier was 3-4 for the Terrapins, while Brian Jarosinski was responsible for both Maryland runs in the game, courtesy of his two-run home run in the seventh.

Clemson came right out with two hits in the first inning. The first was a deep home run to left field by Harvey, his third of the season. Brad McCann, who entered the game with hits in 10 of his last 11 at-bats, slapped a single up the middle. He was stranded, however, and the Tigers led 1-0.

The Tigers extended the lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning. Lou Santangelo reached on an error, and then advanced to second on a dead ball. Ingram then singled up the middle to score Santangelo. He extended his hitting streak to 11 games with the hit. He added the second run of the inning after he and Russell Triplett executed a double steal with two outs.

Maryland got on the board after Berken left in the seventh inning. Jarosinski hit his 12th home run of the season, a two-run shot to left center field. Berken actually retired 13 in a row at one point, before coming out of the game in favor of Jeff Hahn. The Terrapins had a man on second with no outs and threatened for more runs, but reliever Tony Sipp entered and struck out the side. Sipp pitched well, allowing only one hit in 1.2 innings pitched. Hogan came on for the final out in the eighth, and he retired all four batters he faced.

These two teams square off for the second of the three-game series Saturday afternoon at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m.