Maryland Edges Tigers 7-6 Sunday

April 10, 2011

Clemson, SC –

Michael Montville’s run-scoring single in the ninth inning lifted Maryland to a 7-6 victory over Clemson in front of 4,537 fans at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Terrapins improved to 15-17 overall and 3-12 in the ACC. The Tigers, who won the series 2-1, dropped to 18-13 overall and 6-9 in ACC play. Clemson’s 10-game home winning streak came to an end as well.

The back-and-forth game saw the Tigers take a 3-1 lead with a run in the second inning. But the Terrapins took advantage of three walks in the fourth inning and scored three runs to grab a 4-3 lead. The Tigers regained the lead with two runs in the fifth inning, then Maryland answered right back with two runs in the top of the sixth to take a 6-5 lead. After Clemson tied the score with a run in the bottom of the sixth, neither team scored against until the ninth inning, when Alfredro Rodriguez led off with a double and came around to score the winning run on Montville’s single.

Lefthander Korey Wacker (2-1) pitched the final 4.1 innings to earn the win. He allowed just three hits, one run, and four walks with two strikeouts. Wacker and starter Chuck Ghysels combined to issue nine walks and one hit-by-pitch, but they combined to allow just six of Clemson’s 19 baserunners to score.

Alex Frederick (0-3), the last of three Clemson hurlers, suffered the loss. He yielded three hits, one run, and no walks with two strikeouts in 4.0 innings pitched.

Maryland wasted little time taking the game’s first lead in the top of the first inning. Charlie White led off with a walk and Rodriguez singled through the left side. After Ryan Holland moved the runners up a base on a sacrifice bunt, Montville’s sacrifice fly to center plated White. The run ended Maryland’s 13-inning scoreless streak dating back to the series-opener on Friday.

Clemson answered back with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Jeff Schaus drew a two-out walk and scored on Brad Miller followed with a single up the middle to plate Shaffer.

Another two-out rally extended Clemson’s lead in the second inning. John Hinson’s double to left-center.

In the fourth inning, Aaron Etchison, Jake Stinnett, and Tim Kiene all walked with one out to load the bases, then Austin Kilbourne ripped an 0-2 pitch to left field for a single to score Etchison and Stinnett. Two batters later, White gave the Terrapins a 4-3 lead when he lined a two-out single to left-center to score Kiene.

In the fifth inning, Schaus led off with a walk. Two batters later, Miller belted a one-out triple over the first-base bag to plate Schaus and tie the score. Spencer Kieboom gave Clemson the lead when he grounded out to short to score Miller.

Kiene led off the top of the sixth inning with a single on a 1-2 pitch off the pitcher’s right hand. Kilbourne followed with a double down the left-field line. After Kyle Convissar loaded the bases on a four-pitch walk with no outs, White drew another walk to plate Kiene and tie the score. Rodriguez reached on a fielder’s choice to short as Convissar was retired at third base and Kilbourne scored the go-ahead run. The Tigers avoided further damage when Holland grounded into an inning-ending 3-6-1 double play.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Hinson led off with a walk, but he was erased two batters later when Schaus reached on a fielder’s choice to third. Shaffer then lofted a two-out double to the wall in left-center to score Schaus and tie the score.

Kiene led off the eighth inning with a double to right field on a 1-2 pitch. Two batters later, Convissar was hit-by-pitch with one out. The Terrapins attempted a double-steal, but Convissar was caught stealing at second for out #2 as pinch-runner Jordan Hagel took third. Frederick then struck White on a 3-2 pitch to end the inning.

Rodriguez led off the top of the ninth inning with a double down the left-field line and advanced to third on Holland’s sacrifice bunt. Montville lined the next pitch to right field for a single to score Rodriguez.

Phil Pohl led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk on five pitches, then pinch-runner Steve Wilkerson was retired at second base on Schaus’ bunt back to the mound. After Shaffer walked on six pitches, Miller struck out for out #2. Kieboom then grounded out to end the game.

Rodriguez went 3-for-4 with a double, RBI, run, and hit-by-pitch to lead Maryland, who totaled nine hits in the game. Kilbourne went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, while Kiene went 2-for-3 with a double, two runs, and a walk.

Miller went 4-for-5 with a triple, two RBIs, and a run to lead the Tigers, who also accumulated nine hits in the game. Schaus walked twice and scored three runs, Shaffer went 2-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs, and a walk, and Stolz added a single and two walks. However, the Tigers stranded nine runners on base, while the Terrapins left seven on base.

Clemson will return to action on Tuesday when it hosts Presbyterian College at Doug Kingsmore Stadium at 6:30 PM.