Second-ranked Florida State Takes Out #1 Clemson 9-3

May 17, 2002

CLEMSON, SC – Florida State used six runs in the fifth inning, including five with two outs, on its way to a 9-3 victory over Clemson. The second-ranked Seminoles won their 15th straight game and improved to 49-12 (16-6 ACC) while dropping the top-ranked Tigers to 44-10 (16-6 ACC).

Starter Matt Lynch (12-1) scattered 10 hits over 7.1 innings, allowing three runs and no walks while striking out three, to get the win for the Seminoles. Steve Reba (11-2) picked up his first loss in 19 starts for Clemson after yielding nine runs in 5.1 innings.

Khalil Greene started the Clemson first with some fireworks. The senior extended his hitting streak to 20 games after taking a 3-2 pitch deep over the fence in left for a two-run home run. The blast was Greene’s 20th of the year, tying him with teammate Jeff Baker for the team lead. Greene and Baker are the first Clemson pair to hit 20 home runs each in the same season.

Florida State got one run back in the third inning. After a pair of singles put runners at first and third, Ryan Barthelemy’s two-out single to right made the score 2-1. The Seminoles then took the lead with a six-run fifth inning. Stephen Drew knocked in Michael Futrell with an RBI single and the Seminoles put runners on first and second with two outs. With the count at 2-2, Reba threw a wild pitch that catcher Steve Pyzik quickly scooped up. Pyzik throw to second beat Florida State’s Barthelemy, but the Seminole dislodged the ball from David Slevin’s glove with his slide into the bag.

Florida State took advantage of the break with five more runs. Jerrod Brown’s check swing found its way through the left side to bring two runners home and Tony Richie followed with a three-run homer to left that put the Seminoles up 7-2. Tony McQuade’s two-run double off reliever Patrick Hogan extended the lead to 9-2 one inning later.

Clemson scored one run in the eighth after a double by Greene and singles by Jeff Baker and Jarrod Schmidt. The Tigers had runners at first and second with one out, but could not plate any more runs in the inning.

Greene went 3-5 with two RBIs and notched his fifth straight multi-hit game to lead the Tigers.

The two teams will square off tomorrow at 7:00 PM. Matt Henrie (10-2, 2.73 ERA) will take the hill for Clemson while Blair Varnes (6-3, 4.34 ERA) is expected to start for Florida State.