Highest-Scoring Eighth Inning In School History Propels Clemson to 16-6 Win Over Duke Sunday

April 10, 2005

Clemson, SC –

Trailing 6-4 entering the bottom of the eighth inning, Clemson scored 12 runs on 11 hits in the highest-scoring eighth inning in Tiger history and defeated Duke 16-6 Sunday in front of 3,853 fans at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Clemson swept the Blue Devils in the three-game series, improving to 18-13 (9-3 ACC), while Duke fell to 9-26 (1-14 ACC).

Stephen Clyne (1-0) earned the win in relief, his first of his career. The sophomore righthander pitched 1.2 innings, allowing one unearned run while striking out two. Duke starter Danny Otero suffered the loss after pitching 7.0 innings, surrendering eight runs (seven earned) and 10 hits. Otero was effective keeping Tiger batters off balance until the eighth inning.

Brad Chalk, Taylor Harbin, and Tyler Colvin went a combined 6-for-6 in the eighth inning with four RBIs and six runs scored to lead the Tigers. Kris Harvey was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and scored five runs in the game. Six Tigers in all totaled at least two hits in the contest. Corey Whiting was 3-for-5 with three RBIs to pace the Blue Devils’ 13 hits. Duke was hindered by leaving 15 runners on base to Clemson’s five.

For the first time in the series, Clemson got on the scoreboard first. Harvey doubled to left-center and moved to third on Travis Storrer’s infield single. Jorge Andrade, Jr., making his first career start at first base, hit into a fielder’s choice that scored Harvey.

Duke loaded the bases with no outs in the third on three consecutive singles by J. J. Koterba, Jimmy Gallagher, and Javier Socorro. Cribb nearly worked out of the jam by striking out Adam Murray and Brett Bartles, but Corey Whiting ripped a single into right-center to score Koterba and Gallagher.

The Blue Devils added another run in the third on an RBI single by Ron Causey.

Clemson answered in the bottom of the inning. Harvey reached on an error with one out, and then scored on Andrade’s single to center, giving the California native four RBIs in his first three plate appearances of the series.

Duke scored a run in the sixth after two throwing errors by the Tigers. Bryan Smith scored on a fielder’s choice groundout by Gallagher.

Harvey brought the Tigers within one run in the sixth when he hit a towering home run to left field into a strong wind, his eighth of the year.

The Tigers tied the game in the seventh on Stan Widmann’s first career home run, also into the wind in left.

A walk and two hit batsmen in the eighth loaded the bases for Duke with one out. Whiting hit a ground ball that was stopped by a diving Harbin, but the freshman’s throw to second pulled Widmann off the bag allowing Gallagher to score. It was Harbin’s first error of the season at second base. After a strikeout, Clyne walked Bryan Smith to score Adam Murray.

Clemson put its leadoff batter on base for the first time in the eighth on Chalk’s single to right. Harbin followed with a single to center, and Colvin beat out a bunt to third to load the bases. Harvey followed with a single to score Chalk and Harbin, tying the score 6-6. Storrer doubled to left-center to score Colvin as the Tigers regained the lead. With one out, pinch-hitter Ben Hall drew a bases loaded walk to score Harvey. Herman Demmink followed with a single up the middle to score Storrer and Widmann. Demmink advanced to second on a passed ball, and Chalk hit his second single of the inning to right field to plate Hall. Harbin hit his second single of the inning to score Demmink, and Colvin doubled to center, scoring Chalk and Harbin. Pinch-hitter David Williams reached on an error, then Andy D’Alessio singled to score Colvin and Harvey. A double play ended the highest-scoring eighth inning in Clemson history. The Tigers scored 12 runs on 11 hits.

The 12-run inning tied for the sixth-highest scoring inning in Clemson history. Ironically, the Tigers have also scored 12 runs in an inning against Duke on two other occasions, in 1974 and 1978.

The Tigers return to action Tuesday at Western Carolina at 7:00 PM.