Harvey’s Two Homers, Two Big Innings Lead Clemson to 13-4 Win Over Virginia Friday.

April 15, 2005

Clemson, SC –

Clemson scored a combined 12 runs in the sixth and seventh innings to defeat Virginia 13-4 in front of 4,808 fans at Doug Kingsmore Stadium Friday. The Tigers won their fifth game in a row, improving to 20-13 (10-3 ACC). The Cavaliers dropped to 24-12 (5-9 ACC).

Kris Harvey (5-1) pitched 6.0 innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits to earn the win. Harvey also belted two long home runs. It was the second time he hit two homers and earned the victory on the mound in the same game in 2005. It was also his fifth and sixth homers while still in a game as a pitcher this year. Matt Avery (4-3) gave up five runs (four earned) on nine hits to suffer the loss.

With 13 runs on Friday, the Tigers have scored 61 during their five-game winning streak. The win was also the fourth-consecutive game in which Clemson scored more than 10 runs.

Virginia’s first scoring opportunity came in the fourth with runners at first and second with no outs. The Cavaliers then tried a hit-and-run on the first pitch to Brandon Guyer, but he grounded into a double play. With two outs and a runner at third, Tom Hagan flew out to deep left field to end the Virginia threat.

In the bottom of the inning, Harbin led off with a single, but was erased on a ground-ball double play. On a 3-2 pitch, Harvey hit a home run to left for the first scoring of the night.

After 24 consecutive scoreless innings in ACC play, the Cavaliers finally scored a run when they got to Harvey in the fifth. Josh Darby was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and advanced to second on a throwing error by Harvey on Matt Street’s bunt. The play likely would have ended in a double play if not for the error. A sacrifice bunt by Ryan Hudson moved the runners to second and third, and consecutive run-scoring singles by Kyle Werman and Tim Henry gave Virginia a 2-1 lead.

The Cavaliers added to their lead in the sixth. With two outs, Matt Street hit a looping single just in front of centerfielder Brad Chalk to score Guyer and Sean Doolittle.

Harvey helped himself out again in the sixth, hitting is 11th home run of the year, another solo shot with a full count and two outs. The homer was his ACC-best 11th of the season overall. Travis Storrer kept the inning alive with a single up the middle, and then scored on Andy D’Alessio’s double past a diving Tom Hagan in left field. Stan Widmann tied the game with a single through the right side, scoring D’Alessio. Adrian Casanova walked, and then Demmink hit a line drive past the glove of Hagan, scoring Widmann and Casanova.

Harbin led off the seventh with a double, hustling into second just ahead of the throw from Tim Henry in left-center. Tyler Colvin followed with a bunt single down the third base line. Guyer’s throw to first on the bunt sailed over the head of first baseman Doolittle, allowing Harbin to score and Colvin to move to second. Harvey reached when Guyer could not handle his hard-hit ball, and Storrer was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. D’Alessio hit a slow roller to first and Colvin scored, barely beating the throw home from Doolittle. Widmann hit a sacrifice fly to score Harvey, and Casanova singled scoring Storrer. Demmink singled to right to score D’Alessio, and pinch-hitter Ben Hall hit a sacrifice fly to score Casanova. Harbin’s second hit of the inning was a single to right that scored Demmink.

Tiger relievers Jeff Hahn and Chris Fidrych kept the Cavaliers off the scoreboard over the final three innings.

The Tigers and Cavaliers will continue their three game series Saturday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium at 4:00 PM.