Parker’s Eighth-Inning Homer Lifts Clemson Over Virginia Tech 8-7 Saturday

April 26, 2008

Clemson, SC –

Kyle Parker’s two homers, including a three-run homer in the eighth inning, and Doug Hogan’s three-run long ball led Clemson to an 8-7 victory over Virginia Tech on Saturday night in the second game of a three-game series in front of 4,707 fans at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The Tigers, who took a 2-0 series lead, improved to 23-20-1 overall and 9-13-1 in conference action, while the Hokies fell to 18-25 overall and 4-19 in ACC play.

Parker went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, three-run homer, and double along with five RBIs. In the one at-bat that he was retired, he flied out to the wall, as left-fielder Jose Cueto made a catch with his back up against the fence. The rightfielder also threw a runner out at the plate trying to score from second base on a single in the first inning. Hogan added a three-run homer as well for the Tigers, who totaled eight hits and made the most of their 12 baserunners in the game.

Michael Seaborn hit a solo homer for the Hokies, while Steve Bumbry went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Virginia Tech pounded out 15 hits and had 23 baserunners, but the Hokies stranded 14 runners on base to Clemson’s two.

Reliever Matt Vaughn (1-2) earned the win, as he pitched the final 2.0 innings, allowing two unearend runs on three hits while striking out two.

Josh Wymer (5-5) suffered the loss, as he pitched 1.1 innings of relief. The righthander allowed two hits and two runs with one strikeout.

The Tigers got on the scoreboard with a run in the first inning, as Wilson Boyd drew a two-out walk before scoring on a double to center by Parker.

The Hokies took a 4-1 lead in the second inning. Cueto reached on a fielding error by second-baseman Mike Freeman, moved to second on a passed ball, went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Seaborn, and scored on a one-out single up the middle by Matt Hacker. Bumbry brought in a run with a double to left-center before reaching third on a throwing error by Stan Widmann. With two outs, Sean O’Brien drew a two-out walk before Sean Ryan drove in Bumbry with a single through the left side. Anthony Sosnoskie followed with a single up the middle to score another run.

With one out in the third inning, Seaborn belted his seventh homer of the season, a solo shot to left.

The Tigers plated a run in the fourth innning when Parker led off with a solo homer to right-center.

Play was halted by rain in the middle of the sixth inning, but it resumed 41 minutes later.

The Tigers tied the score 5-5 right after the delay. Jeff Schaus led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a single up the middle and moved to second on a wild pitch before Ben Paulsen drew a two-out walk. Hogan followed with a three-run homer to left. It was his 10th long ball of the year.

Clemson reclaimed the lead in the eighth inning. Schaus led off with a single through the right side and Boyd followed with a perfectly placed bunt single. Instead of bunting the runners over, Parker swung away and crushed a three-run homer to right-center. It was his second homer of the game and ninth of the year.

But Virginia Tech would not go quietly, as it scored two runs in the ninth and threatened to score more. Seaborn drew a one-out walk and Hacker reached on a fielding error by Widmann that could have been a game-ending 6-4-3 double play. Bumbry drove in a runner with a single to center and O’Brien doubled through the right side to score Hacker. Ryan walked to load the bases with two outs, but Sosnoskie grounded out to Widmann, who made a running throw to first to end the game.

Due to the threat of inclement weather, Clemson and Virginia Tech will conclude the series on Sunday at the rescheduled time of 10:00 AM.