No. 1 Baseball Blows Past UNC Charlotte, 14-2

March 22, 2000

CLEMSON, S.C. — Brian Ellis and Patrick Boyd combined for five hits, five runs scored and six RBIs in the first five innings of the game, leading #1 ranked (Collegiate Baseball) Clemson to a 14-2 college baseball victory over UNC Charlotte Wednesday night at Kingsmore Stadium. The victory gave Clemson a 20-3 record for the season, while UNC Charlotte fell to 15-10.

Clemson will play host to The Citadel in a three-game series starting Friday night at 7:15 PM.

Ellis, Clemson’s leadoff hitter and starting catcher, had three hits and drove in three runs in his five innings of work, while Boyd had a 2-3 night and drove in three runs with a fifth-inning double. Clemson had 15 hits on the night, tied for the high total in a game by the Tigers this year.

Freshman shortstop Jeff Baker also contributed to the offense with three hits and a walk, while Henri Stanley had two hits and was hit by a pitch. Baker is now 14 for his last 29 at the plate and is hitting over .356 for the season.

Clemson freshman Ryan Childs gained his first win as a Tiger (1-1). He allowed just three hits and one earned run in his five innings. Clemson defeated UNC Charlotte ace starter Ryan Baker, who had allowed just a 2.63 ERA entering the game, but gave up eight runs in the first three innings to the Clemson offense.

Clemson scored three runs in the first inning with the big hit a two-run single by Baker. The Tigers got two more in the second on a leadoff triple by Ryan Riley, a double by Ellis and a single by Boyd. Ellis scored on the play on an error by 49ers left fielder Eric Shanks.

The Tigers took command of the game with three runs on five hits in the third. Baker led off the inning with a solid single to right. He went to second on a single by Stanley and scored on a single by Riley. Riley advanced to second on a bunt single by Casey Stone. After Riley and Stone executed a double steal, Ellis had a single to left to drive in both runners, giving Clemson an 8-1 lead. Seven of Clemson’s nine starters in the lineup had hits by the third inning.

Clemson added four runs in the fifth with the big hit a bases loaded double by Boyd to deep left center. Clemson scored two more in the seventh on an RBI single by Ryan Hub and a 49ers error.

UNC Charlotte scored its only run in the second inning. Brad Erwin led off the frame with a single. Two outs later Alex Derhak doubled to drive in Erwin. Childs settled down after that, allowing just two base runners on walks. Both of those runners were erased on double plays.

Daryl Clark had a hit and two walks, while Erwin had a single and a double to key UNC Charlotte’s offense.