Cribb, Tigers Shut Down College of Charleston 6-0

June 4, 2005

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) – Clemson righty Josh Cribb threw a two-hitter and shut out College of Charleston for the first time in more than two seasons in the Tigers 6-0 NCAA tournament victory Saturday night.

Cribb carried a no hitter into the fifth inning until Charleston catcher Brian Hastings dragged a bunt along the third base line for a hit. Phillip Coker’s leadoff single an inning later was the only other hit for the Cougars (48-14), who were last held without a run on May 3, 2003, in a 1-0 loss to North Carolina Greensboro – a span of 137 games.

Clemson (41-21) improved to 15-0 all time against Charleston – and moved itself a win away from an NCAA super regional. Charleston takes on Oral Roberts, which eliminated North Carolina A&T 6-3 earlier Saturday, with the loser’s season over. That winner would have to beat the Tigers twice to move on.

Cribb, who as a senior at Lake View High went the entire season without permitting an earned run, shut down Charleston’s potent attack. Brett Gardner, who came in as the nation’s hit leader with 121, was 0 for 4 and saw his 25-game hit streak end. D.J. Wabick, with 107 hits, and Chris Campbell, with 101, combined to go 0 for 7.

Brad Chalk got the Tigers (41-21) on the board in the fifth with a run-scoring single, his first RBI at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in 16 games since April 10.

With Cribb in control, Clemson didn’t need much else.

Charleston, however, helped the Tigers along. After Andy D’Alessio doubled and took third on a wild pitch with one out in the sixth, Adrian Casanova’s grounder to third looked like it might keep Clemson off the board. But the ball rolled up Jess Easterling’s arms and into foul territory to bring in D’Alessio.

Herman Demmink followed with a single that brought in Stan Widmann and made it 3-0.

The Tigers put the game out of reach two innings later with an RBI single by Demmink, a run-scoring groundout by Chalk and Taylor Harbin’s sacrifice fly to lead 6-0 in the eighth.

When Easterling lined out to shortstop to end the game, Cribb (8-4) bounced off the mound pumping his fists. It was Cribb’s third complete game of the year. He finished with six strikeouts and allowed only four balls out of the infield all game.

Charleston starter Danny Gemma (7-4) gave up only the game’s first run. But with Charleston’s nonexistant offense, it was enough to earn the loss.