Seminoles Take Game One of the Series Against the Tigers 11-6

May 1, 2004

Clemson, SC – After #11 Clemson scored six runs in the first two innings for a 6-1 lead, Florida State scored 10 unanswered runs to defeat the Tigers 11-6 Saturday night in front of 5,079 fans at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The loss ended Clemson’s 14-game home winning streak. The game lasted three hours, 13 minutes and saw a combined eight errors, including six by the #24 Seminoles.

Rhett James earned the victory for the Seminoles after relieving Hunter Jones in the first inning. Jones left the game due to an injury. James is now 5-2 for the year. Florida State improves to 28-16 and 7-6 in the ACC with the win while Clemson falls to 27-15 and 11-5 in conference play. Steven Jackson suffered the loss for the Tigers after entering the game in the fourth inning in relief of starter Tyler Lumsden. He dropped to 3-2 on the season.

The Seminoles scored a run in the first inning for an early 1-0 lead. Bryan Zech led off the inning with a single through the left side. The next batter Stephen Drew doubled to right center field to score Zech.

The Tigers responded with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the first inning. Herman Demmink, who sat out the last game injured, led off with a single up the middle. After Demmink stole second base, Kris Harvey singled to right center. Brad McCann had a blooper to left center field to score Demmink. Catcher Lou Santangelo had an infield single to reach base, but Seminole third baseman overthrew first base on the attempt. Harvey scored and McCann and Santangelo advanced to third and second on the error. John Ingram then hit a grounder to the second baseman, scoring McCann for a 3-1 lead.

Clemson added three more runs in the bottom of the third inning for a 6-1 advantage. McCann walked to lead off the inning and Santangelo followed with a single to left field. Travis Storrer reached on a bunt single back to the pitcher. James threw errantly to first base, allowing McCann to score and Santangelo and Storrer to advance a base. After Ingram grounded out, Russell Triplett hit a fly ball to deep left field to score Santangelo. Storrer also advanced to third on the fly ball. He later scored on a wild pitch.

Florida State scored six runs in the top of the fourth inning to take a 7-6 lead. Gibbs Chapman led off with a single up the middle. Shane Robinson followed with a single to right center. Then Daniel Wardell walked to load the bases and Matt Sauls also reached with a walk to score Chapman from third. Pinch hitter Ryne Malone singled up the middle to score Robinson and Wardell. Zech singled through the right side plating Sauls and advancing Malone to third base. After Drew struck out, Aaron Cheeseman hit a double to left center field to score Malone and Zech for the lead.

The Seminoles added two more runs in the top of the sixth inning to increase their lead to 9-6. Zech and Drew walked to start the inning. Martinez-Esteve then singled through the left side to score Zech. Drew scored on Chapman’s single through the left side.

Florida State scored two runs in the seventh inning for an 11-6 lead.. Zech reached on a two-strike bunt single and Drew followed with a single up the middle. Martinez-Esteve then hit a double to right center field to plate both baserunners.

Clemson hosts Florida State in game two of the three-game series on Sunday at 2:00 pm. It will be televised live by the Sunshine Network.