No. 6 Clemson Baseball Knocks Off Duke, 8-5

April 22, 2000

Box Score

DURHAM, N.C. — No. 6 Clemson jumped out to a 5-0 lead and held off a late Duke rally to defeat the Blue Devils 8-5 Saturday at Jack Coombs Field. The victory drops Duke to 4-13 in the ACC and 14-31 overall while Clemson improves to 10-4 in the ACC and 34-10 overall.

Clemson scored three runs in the first and two runs in the second inning to take a 5-0 advantage. Casey Stone led off the first with a bunt single and Khalil Greene walked. Jeff Baker’s single to left field drove home Stone, Patrick Boyd drove in two on a single to right field. The Tigers added two more runs in the second on Ryan Riley’s two-run triple off the left-field wall. The triple was Riley’s fifth of the season.

Clemson freshman righthander Jarrod Schmidt (7-0) earned the victory after throwing the first 6.2 innings and allowing six hits and two runs. He struck out five batters. Schmidt, who leads the ACC in ERA at 2.29, has earned the victory in seven consecutive outings. Mike Proto earned his first career save after throwing the final 2.2 innings.

Duke first got on the scoreboard in the fifth inning on Larry Broadway’s two-run home run to rightfield.

Clemson scored a run in the sixth on Steve Pyzik’s sacrifice fly. The Tigers added two insurance runs in the ninth inning on Khalil Greene RBI single and Casey Stone RBI double.

Down 8-2 in the bottom of the ninth, Duke rallied with with three runs in the ninth on Larry Broadway’s two-run double to right center and Kevin Kelly’s RBI single.

Larry Broadway led Duke with a 3-4, double, home run and four RBI performance. Kevin Kelly finished 2-5 with an RBI. Duke starter Kevin Perry (3-5) pitched the first two innings and allowed five hits and four runs for his fifth loss of the season.

Clemson was led at the plate by Casey Stone 3-4, two run, RBI day. Patrick Boyd went 2-4, with two RBI and Bradley LeCroy went 2-3.

Game three of the three-game series is Sunday at 1 p.m. at Jack Coombs Field. Tiger skipper Jack Leggett has a career record of 699-412 entering Easter Sunday’s game.

Clemson 8 Duke 5

                           R  H  EClemson     320  001  002  8  11  0Duke        000  020  003  5   8  1