No. 9 Tigers Edge ND 6-5

CLEMSON, S.C. – Chase Pinder’s sacrifice fly in the fifth inning broke a 5-5 tie in No. 9 Clemson’s 6-5 win over Notre Dame at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers, who took a 2-0 series lead, improved to 11-3 overall and 2-0 in the ACC thanks to their fifth victory in a row. The Fighting Irish fell to 3-10 overall and 0-2 in ACC play.

Clemson scored four runs in the first inning, ignited by Pinder’s leadoff double. After both teams scored a run in the second inning and Notre Dame scored a run in the third inning, the Fighting Irish used four one-out hits to plate three runs in the top of the fifth inning and tie the score 5-5. The Tigers loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the fifth inning and took the lead on Pinder’s sacrifice fly.

Brooks Crawford (3-0) earned the win in relief by pitching the final 4.2 innings without allowing a run. Notre Dame reliever Ryan Smoyer (0-2) suffered the loss, as he yielded one run on one hit in 2.0 innings pitched.

The series concludes Sunday at 1 p.m., on ACC Network Extra.

[View the story “ND at Clemson (March 11, 2017)” on Storify]