No. 5 Seminoles Survive Scare from No. 8 Tigers for 7-6 Victory

April 7, 2001

TALLAHASSEE, FL – No. 5 Florida State held on in the ninth inning despite Jeff Baker’s second home run of the night to claim a 7-6 victory over No. 8 Clemson Saturday in front of a season-high 4,461 at Dick Howser Stadium.

After a fly out by Chad Coder, Baker sent one over the fence in left-center field to pull within 7-6. Michael Johnson then reached on an error and Jarrod Schmidt singled before reliever Justin Lord got Khalil Greene to pop up to third base and got Zane Green to stirke out.

Florida State took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Scott Toole singled to right field to score Karl Jernigan who had walked to lead off the inning. Clemson moved ahead in the top of the third inning on a two-run home run by Baker over the fence in right-center field. His 10th homer of the season scored Casey Stone who boarded on a two-base error by Toole at third base.

Jernigan responded for Florida State in the bottom of the inning with a two-run shot over the left field fence to put the Seminoles back on top by a score of 3-2. After a ground out and a fly out, Mike Futrell singled up the middle to make Jernigan the go-ahead run. The Tigers moved ahead in the top of the fourth on back-to-back doubles by Khalil Greene and Zane Green. Russell Triplett walked and then Seth Miller popped to the pitcher up on a bunt that would have moved Green and Triplett to second and third, but a wild pitch ended up doing the same thing. Stone singled to score Green and give Clemson a 4-3 lead.

But the Seminoles erupted for four runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 7-4 lead. Jernigan doubled for FSU’s third hit of the inning to score John-Ford Griffin, who led off the inning with a single. Nick Rogers scored Futrell on a sacrifice fly to center field and then Toole and Richie each singled to bring in Jernigan and Probst, who had reached on a walk.

Clemson got a run back in the seventh on back-to-back doubles for the second time of the game, this time by Baker and Michael Johnson. Tiger bats remained silent until Baker launched his second home run of the night to pull Clemson within 7-6 in the top of the ninth.

Baker finished the night 4 for 5 with three RBIs and three runs scored after belting a double and two home runs. The home runs were his 10th and 11th of the season. Zane Green was the only other Tiger with multiple hits. He was 2 for 5 with one RBI and one run scored.

FSU reliever Matt Lynch got the win to improve to 4-1 this season. In 4 2/3 innings he allowed just one run off three hits with seven strike outs. FSU starter Marc LaMacchia was pulled after just 3.1 innings after allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits. Lord, who came on in relief in the top of the ninth, picked up his ninth save of the season. Clemson starting pitcher Matt Henrie lasted 4.0 innings giving up nine hits and six earned runs. He gave up the tying run in the fifth inning before he was relieved. With the loss he fell to 3-1 on the season.

Florida State is now 30-7 and 13-1 in the ACC and will go for a series sweep of Clemson on Sunday. The Tigers are now 21-11 and 5-3 in the ACC.

The first pitch on Sunday will be at 1:00 PM. On the mound for the Tigers will be senior Nick Glaser (3-0, 2.41 ERA). He will likely oppose sophomore Robby Read (5-3, 4.34 ERA) for the Seminoles. The game will be broadcast on the Clemson Tiger Network.