Seventh-Ranked Clemson Rallies to Defeat #13 Florida State 4-3 in 10 Innings Saturday

May 13, 2006

Clemson, SC-

Tyler Colvin hit a single past a diving Tony Thomas, Jr. to score Marquez Smith from second base as #7 Clemson defeated #13 Florida State 4-3 in 10 innings in front of 5,470 fans at Doug Kingsmore Stadium Saturday. The Tigers erased an early 3-0 deficit to extend their winning streak to 10 games and improve to 38-13 overall, and 20-6 in the ACC. The Seminoles fell to 37-14 overall, and 14-11 in the ACC.

Taylor Harbin and Travis Storrer each had two hits for Clemson. Jack Rye and Ryan Malone had two hits apiece for Florida State.

Ryan Hinson (3-0) pitched 2.2 scoreless innings of relief, allowing one hit and striking out two to earn the win for the Tigers. Luke Tucker (0-1) allowed two runs (one earned) in 1.1 innings pitched and suffered the loss for the Seminoles.

Shane Robinson walked to begin the game, and moved to second on a single up the middle by Rye. Dennis Guinn sacrificed the runners to second and third, and Buster Posey singled a 1-2 pitch up the middle to score both Robinson and Rye.

Malone singled to lead off the fourth, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ryan Strauss. A wild pitch moved Malone to third, and he scored on a single up the middle by Josh Spivey.

The Tigers got on the board in the sixth. Brad Chalk singled to center with one out, and went to second when Smith was hit by a pitch. With two outs, Storrer just missed tying the score as he tripled off the fence in right to score Chalk and Smith.

Guinn doubled to right-center to lead off the eighth, and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Posey. Clemson brought in Hinson, and Malone hit a grounder to a drawn-in Harbin at second base who fired home to retire Guinn attempting to score.

Herman Demmink extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a lead off double in the eighth. Chalk sacrificed Demmink to third, and the Seminoles brought in Brent Marsh. Marsh struck out Smith, and Florida State then turned to Matt DiBlasi who struck out Colvin to end the Clemson threat.

Harbin singled with one out in the ninth and moved to second on an infield single by Andy D’Alessio. With two outs, Adrian Casanova hit a chopper up the middle that got through to the outfield and scored Harbin to tie the game.

Smith reached on a throwing error by Posey with one out in the 10th, and moved to second on a wild pitch. Colvin then hit a sharp grounder that Thomas dove for but could not glove and Smith slid across the plate with the winning run.

The victory was Clemson’s first when trailing after eight innings this season.

Clemson, who owns a 2-0 series lead, and Florida State conclude their three-game series Sunday at 1:00PM at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.