Clemson Holds on for 5-3 Victory over College of Charleston

March 7, 2001

CLEMSON, S.C. – Freshman Steven Jackson pitched five innings allowing just six hits and just one run as Clemson jumped out to a 2-1 lead on its way to a 5-3 victory over the College of Charleston Wednesday in front of a crowd of 1,742 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Clemson again struck first in the bottom of the first inning when Jeff Baker singled to score Casey Stone who had reached on a walk. Stone had advanced to second on his sixth stolen base of the year. Baker went on to get a hit in his next at bat to extend his streak of consecutive hits to seven. He walked in the fifth and then flew out to center field in the sixth to end the streak. He was 5 for 5 Sunday in the 7-4 win over South Carolina.

The College of Charleston evened the game 1-1 in the second when second baseman John McCarty knocked in Jasha Balcom who doubled to start the inning.

The Tigers, which improved to 8-4 on the year, claimed a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth. Lead-off batter Casey Stone on first. After a strike out and two walks to load the bases, Kyle Frank singled to plate Stone.

Clemson extended its lead to 4-1 in the sixth inning when Steve Pyzik. Khalil Greene doubled after two straight ground outs to score Pyzik.

The Cougars, which fell to 10-7, added two runs in the top of the eighth inning to pull within 4-3, but a Riley home run in the bottom half of the inning gave the Tigers a two-run lead. The College of Charleston threatened in the top of the ninth after putting runners at second and third, but three straight outs ended the game.

Jackson improved to 2-0 on the year in his five-inning effort. He was relieved by three others before Josh Cram came in to get his third save in as many appearances. He pitched 1.1 innings without allowing a run from any of the six batters he faced. College of Charleston starter David Jablonski was pegged with his first loss of the year to fall to 1-1.

Clemson hosts Ohio University in a two-game series Saturday and Sunday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The teams will play at 2:00 PM on Saturday and 1:00 PM on Sunday. Both games will be broadcast on WGOG-FM (96.3) in Walhalla.