Clemson Uses Big Inning to Defeat Duke 9-3 Friday

April 8, 2005

Clemson, SC –

Clemson exploded for eight runs in the sixth inning to break open a close game and defeated Duke 9-3 in front of 2,770 fans at Doug Kingsmore Stadium Friday. The eight-run inning tied for the most runs in an inning by Clemson in 2005. The Tigers improved to 16-13 (7-3 ACC), while the Blue Devils dropped to 9-24 (1-12 ACC).

Kris Harvey (4-1) struck out a career-high nine batters in 7.0 innings pitched to earn the win. The junior righthander gave up three runs (two earned), five hits, and one walk. He and Daniel Moskos combined for 13 strikeouts, while Duke did not have a hit after a leadoff single in the fourth inning. Greg Burke (4-5) gave up eight runs (seven earned) in 5.0 innings pitched to take the loss.

Harvey and Herman Demmink each had two hits for the Tigers, and Brett Bartles had all three RBIs for the Blue Devils. Clemson, who did not draw a walk, had 11 runners reach base, as nine of them scored. Clemson left just one runner on base.

Duke struck in the top of the first inning when Javier Socorro hit a bloop single to right and moved to third on a well-placed, hit-and-run single by Adam Murray. Socorro then scored on Bartles’ RBI groundout to first base.

The Blue Devils extended their lead in the third inning. Jimmy Gallagher reached on an error and moved to third on a soft double past Demmink at third by Socorro. Bartles then brought them both home with a single up the middle.

After Burke kept the Tiger bats quiet through four innings, Clemson got on the board in the fifth on a solo home run to left by Harvey, his seventh of the year.

Ben Hall led off the sixth for the Tigers with his seventh hit in 13 pinch-hit at-bats in 2005, a double down the left-field line. Hall then scored on Demmink’s single to right-center. Brad Chalk used his speed to beat out the throw to first on a single to shortstop. Taylor Harbin reached on a throwing error by Burke on a sacrifice bunt, which allowed Demmink to score and Chalk to move to third. Tyler Colvin then hit a two-run double to left center to give Clemson its first lead of the night. Travis Storrer followed with a single to score Colvin, and moved to second on a single by Harvey, which signaled the end of the night for Burke. With one out, pinch-hitter David Williams hit a two-run single, scoring Storrer and Harvey. Demmink singled for the second time in the inning to plate Williams. When the dust cleared, the Tigers had scored eight runs on eight hits in the inning.

Moskos pitched two scoreless innings to close the game out for the Tigers, striking out four.

The Tigers and Blue Devils continue the three-game series Saturday at 7:00 PM at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.