Eight-Run Eighth Inning Propels #2 Clemson to 10-5 Win Over William & Mary

March 8, 2006

Clemson, SC- #2 Clemson scored eight runs in the eighth inning and overcame a 5-2 deficit to defeat William & Mary 10-5 Wednesday in front of 3,859 fans at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The Tigers improved to 8-2, and the Tribe fell to 5-9.

Andy D’Alessio’s three-run home run in the eighth tied the score, and the junior first baseman also added a single later in the inning as he was 3-for-5 on the day. Travis Storrer added two hits and two RBIs. Ben Guez had two hits for the Tribe, and Greg Sexton scored two runs.

Stephen Clyne (1-0) pitched two perfect innings of relief, striking out two for Clemson to earn his first victory of the season. Sean Sosonko surrendered six runs (three earned) in 0.2 innings pitched to suffer the loss for William & Mary, falling to 0-1.

William & Mary opened the scoring with two unearned runs in the first. Jeff Lunardi singled with one out, and advanced to second on a groundout by Greg Maliniak. Sexton reached on a fielding error by Marquez Smith at third to put runners on the corners. Sexton attempted to steal second on an 0-2 pitch to Sosonko, and Adrian Casanova’s throw to second was low and bounced off of Stan Widmann into right-center allowing Lunardi to score and Sexton to score all the way from first.

The Tribe added to its lead in the second. Guez singled to center with one out, and James Williamson followed with a single through the right side that sent Guez to third. Joe Mante then singled through the right side to score Guez.

Sosonko tripled to lead off the fourth, and scored on a fielding error on Taylor Harbin to give the Tribe a 4-0 lead.

Clemson cut the lead in half in the fifth. Brad Chalk walked with one out, and Harbin followed with a single. Tyler Colvin popped out, and Storrer singled through the right side with two outs to score Chalk. Smith followed with a bunt single to third to score Harbin. D’Alessio hit a line drive right at Guez in right field to end the Tiger threat.

The Tribe answered right back as Sexton led off the sixth with a solo home run down the left field line, his first of the season. It was only the second home run of the season for the William & Mary, who was playing its 14th game of the season.

Clemson exploded for eight runs in the eighth. Storrer was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and Smith followed with a walk. D’Alessio then tied the score with a three-run home run to right-center, his second of the season. Widmann hit an infield single and moved to second on a throwing error by shortstop Larry Stanfield. Doug Hogan’s sacrifice bunt moved Widmann to third with one out. Demmink and Chalk both walked to load the bases. Harbin then hit a chopper right back to the pitcher Sosonko that could have potentially ended the inning, but Sosonko committed both a fielding error and throwing error on the play, as he dropped the ball and then threw wildly home, allowing both Widmann and Demmink to score. Colvin hit the next pitch through the left side for a two-run single that scored Chalk and Harbin. Colvin then stole second and third on consecutive pitches, and scored on Storrer’s squeeze bunt for Clemson’s eighth run of the inning. The Tigers sent 13 batters to the plate during the frame.

Each team committed three errors, and each team surrendered three unearned runs.

The Tigers return to action Friday at 4:00 PM when they play host to #25 Kansas at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.