Kent Closes the Deal in Clemson’s 5-3 Win Over Maryland in First Game of Doubleheader Saturday

April 21, 2012

College Park, MD –

Sophomore righthander Mike Kent, a native of nearby Springfield, VA, pitched the final 3.1 innings without allowing a run to close out Clemson’s 5-3 win over Maryland in the first game of a doubleheader at Bob Smith Stadium on Saturday. The Tigers, who took a 2-0 series lead, improved to 23-17 overall and 11-9 in the ACC. The Terrapins dropped to 25-16 overall and 7-13 in ACC play.

The Tigers scored three runs in the first inning and never relinquished their lead. The Terrapins scored two runs in the sixth inning to narrow Clemson’s lead to 5-3, but Kent escaped a bases-loaded situation and cruised the rest of the way to give the Tigers their seventh win in a row away from home.

Starter Dominic Leone (6-3) earned the win in 5.2 innings pitched. He gave up eight hits, three runs, and three walks with three strikeouts. Kent allowed three hits, no runs, and no walks with two strikeouts to record his second save of the season.

Brett Harman (5-3), the first of two Terrapin hurlers, suffered the loss. He yielded 10 hits, five runs, and no walks with five strikeouts in 5.0 innings pitched. Michael Boyden pitched 4.0 scoreless innings of two-hit ball to close out the game.

The Tigers grabbed the game’s first lead in the top of the first inning. Thomas Brittle blooped an 0-2 pitch to left-center for a one-out single to extend his hitting streak to 13 games. Richie Shaffer followed with another single on an 0-2 pitch up the middle to advance Brittle to third, then Brittle scored on a balk. Phil Pohl grounded a 1-2 pitch over the third-base bag for a double to score Shaffer. Two batters later with two outs, Jon McGibbon flared a 1-2 pitch down the right-field line for a single to plate Pohl.

In the bottom of the first inning, Tomo Delp smacked a two-out solo homer to left-center, his fourth long ball of the season.

The Tigers added to their lead in the fourth inning. Spencer Kieboom hit a one-out double to left-center. Two batters later, Jason Stolz belted a two-out double to left-center to score Kieboom.

In the fifth inning, Brittle led off with a bunt single and stole second. Two batters later with one out, Pohl belted an 0-2 pitch off the wall in left-center for a single to score Brittle.

The Terrapins cut Clemson’s lead in half in the sixth inning. Kyle Convissar reached on an infield single with one out and Michael Montville walked two batters later with two outs. Jack Cleary hit another infield single and Korey Wacker slapped a single to left field to score Convissar. Alfredo Rodriguez reached on Maryland’s third infield single of the frame to score Montville, cutting Clemson’s lead to 5-3.

In the ninth inning, Delp grounded a two-out single through the left side, but K.J. Hockaday popped up in the infield to end the game.

Pohl led Clemson’s 12-hit attack by going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, while Brittle went 2-for-4 with two runs, one walk, and one steal. Of Clemson’s 12 hits, seven came on 0-2 (4) or 1-2 (3) pitches.

Cleary went 4-for-4 to pace Maryland, who amassed 11 hits. However, Maryland left 10 runners on base and scored just three of its 14 baserunners.

Clemson and Maryland will play the second game of the doubleheader and series-finale on Saturday at approximately 2:20 PM.