Harris’ Ninth Inning Homer Propels Clemson Baseball to Victory

Feb. 7, 1998

KISSIMMEE, FL — Junior first baseman Jason Harris hit a two out, two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning to give Clemson a 7-6 win over Central Florida in the Olive Garden Classic in Kissimmee, FL.

Donovan Harrison (1-0) earned the victory in relief, and Lester Victoria (0-1) took the defeat for Central Florida. Senior Scott Clackum earned his second save in as many games.

Clemson was led at the plate by Kurt Bultmann and Doug Roper. Bultmann went 3-for-5, including a double and two RBIs. Roper went 3-for-3 and scored three runs for the Tigers. Eric Riggs led Central Florida with three hits in five at bats.

Down a run, Clemson scored two runs in the third inning. Freshman Peter Nystrom led off the inning with a homer to centerfield. Patrick Boyd added the second run of the inning on a sacrifice fly to left field.

After Clemson upped its lead to 3-1 on a Paul Stryhas double, Central Florida tied the game in the fifth inning.

Clemson came right back and took the lead in the top of the seventh on Bultmann’s single, plating Roper, who had led off the inning with a double.

But two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning and one more in the eighth gave the Knights a 6-4 lead heading into the ninth inning.

Roper capped off his 3-for-3 performance with a leadoff single. After two consecutive ground outs, Bultmann kept the inning alive with an opposite field double, plating Roper and cutting the Knight lead to 6-5. After a pitching change, junior college transfer Jason Harris hit his first homer as a Tiger, putting the Tigers ahead for good 7-6. The shot came with a 2-2 count.

Senior Scott Clackum relieved Harrison in the ninth to earn the save. Clackum struck out David Gies looking to end the game. Central Florida had runners at first and third.

Clemson’s will face Auburn on Sunday at 12:00 PM. The championship and consolation games have been eliminated due to the inclement weather on Friday. Therefore, Clemson will have only played three games this weekend, rather than the four that were scheduled.

Clemson     0  0  2     1  0  0     1  0  3 -       7  14  3Central Florida     1  0  0     0  2  0     2  1  0 -       6  13  1WP - Harrison (1-0); LP - Victoria (0-1); Save - Clackum (2)2B - Bultmann (2), Padgett (1), Stryhas (1), Roper (1), Riggs (1), E. Johnson (2), Gies 2 (2)HR - Harris (1), Nystrom (1)Start:  12:00 PM    Time:  3:21White faced 3 batters in the 5th.B. Adams faced 1 batter in the 8th.Victoria faced 1 batter in the 9th.