Clemson Sweeps Maryland with 7-2 Victory on Sunday

March 31, 2002

Clemson scored three runs in the second inning and held the lead with solid defense and pitching for a 7-2 win over Maryland on Sunday afternoon at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The Tigers improved to 23-1 overall and 3-0 in ACC play while Maryland moved to 17-9 overall and 0-6 in the conference.

Matt Henrie (6-0) earned the win for Clemson. The junior scattered seven hits over 5.0 innings, allowing two runs while striking out two. Thomas Boozer pitched three scoreless innings, allowing only one hit and Paul Harrelson closed out the ninth to secure the victory. Chris Clem dropped to 1-1 for Maryland.

Clemson got on the board first with three runs in the second inning. The Tigers loaded the bases and scored a run when second baseman David Slevin was hit by a pitch. Catcher Collin Mahoney followed with a base hit to left that scored two runs.

Maryland countered with a run in the top of the third when John McCurdy’s two-out single scored Daryl Whitmer. The Terrapins threatened in the top of the fourth as Jason Maxey singled and advanced to third when Mahoney’s pickoff attempt sailed over first baseman Jarrod Schmidt, but the rightfielder gunned down a tagging Maxey at the plate.

Slevin singled to lead off the fifth and Mahoney followed with a double down the left field line. Slevin scored on a wild pitch and Kyle Frank’s sacrifice fly plated Mahoney to give Clemson a 5-1 advantage.

Back-to-back singles by Maryland chased Henrie in the sixth inning. Kevin McDonald’s sacrifice moved the runners over and Anthony Buffone scored on a groundout. Relief pitcher Boozer got Frazier to fly out and end the inning.

Clemson answered in the bottom of the sixth with a run of its own. Johnson, who walked twice but failed to extend his 20-game hitting streak, reached on a base on balls, stole second and scored on Schmidt’s double to right center. The Tigers added an insurance in the eighth to make the final margin 7-2.

Clemson will host East Tennessee State on Tuesday night at 7:15 PM at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.