Clemson Tops Presbyterian 12-7 at Fluor Field Wednesday

April 23, 2008

Greenville, SC –

Clemson tallied 15 hits and Craig Gullickson pitched 3.1 scoreless innings to lead the Tigers to a 12-7 victory over Presbyterian on Wednesday night in front of 5,019 fans at Fluor Field. It was the Tigers’ second game ever played at Fluor Field. Clemson improved to 21-20-1, while the Blue Hose dropped to 12-27.

Ben Paulsen led Clemson’s offensive attack with three hits and four RBIs, including a two-run double in the third inning. Chris Epps went 2-for-4 and added three RBIs as well.

Every Blue Hose starter collected at least one hit, as the team totaled 17 in the contest. Jared Combs led Presbyterian offensively with a two-run homer.

Gullickson (4-2) pitched 3.1 scoreless innings of relief, allowing five hits and one walk while striking out two to earn the win for the Tigers.

Presbyterian starter Ben Dollar (2-3) pitched 1.2 innings and gave up eight runs on eight hits and two walks to take the loss.

The Tigers took an early 6-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Jeff Schaus and Wilson Boyd got things started with back-to-back one-out singles. Paulsen then put runners on the corners and plated Schaus with a single through the right side. Kyle Parker then drew a walk to load the bases. Doug Hogan was hit by a pitch to bring home Boyd. Epps then drove in Paulsen and Parker with a single up the middle, and Hogan scored on John Hinson’s sacrifice fly down the left-field line. With two outs, Stan Widmann plated Epps with a single to center.

The Blue Hose responded with one run in the top of the second. Casey Carlson led off the frame with a walk, moved to third on a one-out single by Steven Henry, and scored on a dropped line drive by second-baseman Mike Freeman.

Clemson took an 8-1 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Schaus led off with a double down the right-field line before Paulsen drove him in with a one-out single to left. Parker walked and Epps plated Paulsen with a single through the right side.

Presbyterian scored two runs in the top of the third inning. Cory Lyda was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Nate Horton hit a one-out single to center but was out on a fielder’s choice by Combs that put runners on the corners. Lyda then scored on a wild pitch and Combs scored on a single through the right side by Carlson.

In the bottom of the third inning, Freeman hit a one-out double down the right-field line and Boyd drew a two-out walk. Paulsen then doubled to left-center, driving in both runners. Parker followed with a single to left-center to plate Paulsen and put the Tigers ahead 11-3.

The Blue Hose scored one run in the seventh. With one out, Kyle Craven hit a double to right-center and Jesse Harmon put runners on the corners with a single through the left side. Harmon then moved to second on a groundout by Henry. With two outs, Craven scored on a wild pitch.

In the top of the eighth, Zac Rhinesmith led off with a single and scored on a one-out double down the left-field line by Robert Anders. With two outs, Combs hit a two-run homer to left. It was his sixth long ball of the year.

John Nester led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a single through the left side and stole second base. Epps followed with a walk before Hinson moved both runners up a base with a sacrifice bunt. Matt Sanders then drove in Nester with a one-out sacrifice fly to center.

The Tigers will return to ACC action on Friday night when they host Virginia Tech at 7:15 PM.