Clemson Resilient With 2-1 Ninth-Inning Win Over N.C. State

April 23, 2004

Clemson, SC- Senior captain Russell Triplett hit a walk-off, game-winning single in the ninth inning to give #17 Clemson a 2-1 victory over N.C. State in front of 4,464 fans at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Friday. Triplett’s hit was his only for the game and only the fifth hit for Clemson. It marked the second consecutive game Clemson won in the final inning.

The win improved Clemson to 25-14, 9-4 in the ACC. The win was the 12th consecutive at home for the Tigers. N.C. State fell to 27-14, 9-7 in the ACC. The Wolfpack, third in the nation in terms of fielding percentage, uncharacteristically committed three errors.

The Tigers and Wolfpack engaged in a pitchers’ duel that saw neither team come up with an extra-base hit. Starters Tyler Lumsden of Clemson and Michael Rogers of N.C. State both went deep into the game, yet neither factored in the decision. Lumsden struck out nine and scattered seven hits over 7.1 innings pitched. Patrick Hogan got his first win of the season for the Tigers, as he struck out three and did not yield a hit over the final 1.2 innings.

Rogers pitched a brilliant game for N.C. State, giving up one unearned run and just three hits over 8.0 innings. Rogers’ pitch count was less than 100. Adam McLaurin came on in the ninth, but fell to 2-3 overall after giving up the game-winner.

Travis Storrer was the only Tiger to have a multi-hit game. He had two of Clemson’s five hits overall, one being a crucial bunt single in the seventh. David Hicks was the only Wolfpack player to have more than one hit also. He was 2-4 on the night.

N.C. State opened the scoring with one run in the first inning. Matt Camp led off with a walk, advanced to third on a single by Hicks, then scored on a single up the middle by Mike Jensen. After that, the game settled into a pitcher’s duel.

Clemson did not get its first hit until the third inning. In the fifth, Storrer reached on an error. However, he was out at second base as Andy D’Alessio tried to bunt him over. Then, D’Alessio was picked off at first base to end the threat.

The Tigers took advantage of its next chance in an uncharacteristic manner. With one out in the seventh, Brad McCann reached second base on an error by Hicks, his second of the game and just his third of the season. Then, McCann advanced to third on Rogers’ second balk of the contest. He had none entering the game. Storrer brought McCann home and tied the game with a perfect two-out bunt single to third base. Clemson did leave two on base, however.

Lumsden made it into the eighth inning, but allowed his seventh hit of the ballgame. Hogan came in from the bullpen and shut the door on the Wolfpack, striking out the side in the eighth. The Tigers had a chance to go ahead in the eighth. Tyler Colvin reached second base on the Wolfpack’s third error of the game. However, he was stranded there and Rogers got out of the jam with fly outs by Kris Harvey and McCann.

Rogers did not pitch the ninth for N.C. State. With one out, Storrer got his second hit of the ballgame to left field. Then, he advanced to second base on a wild pitch. With two on and only one out, Triplett approached the plate and proceeded to hit a sharp ball down the left field line to produce the game-winning run.

These two teams meet for the second of the three-game series Saturday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM.