Shaffer, Felder Homer to Lift #16 Clemson Over UAB 6-1 in First Game of Doubleheader Saturday

Feb. 18, 2012

Clemson, SC –

Richie Shaffer and Brad Felder both hit two-run homers and starter Dominic Leone pitched 6.0 scoreless innings of two-hit ball to lead #16 Clemson to a 6-1 win over UAB in the first game of a doubleheader at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Saturday. The Tigers improved to 1-1, while the Blazers dropped to 1-1.

Leone (1-0) allowed just two hits and one walk with four strikeouts to earn the win. Three Tiger relievers combined to pitch the final 3.0 innings to close out the game. Blazer starter Ben Bullard (0-1) gave up eight hits and five runs in 3.2 innings to suffer the loss.

The Tigers dented the scoreboard first in the first inning. Thomas Brittle led off with his first hit as a Tiger, a double down the right-field line. Two batters later, Shaffer belted a towering two-run homer down the left-field line, his first long ball of the season.

Clemson doubled its lead in the third inning in similar fashion. Brittle led off with a bunt single and Felder followed with a line-drive, two-run homer to right field, his first hit and home run as a Tiger.

The Tigers added to their lead in the fourth inning. Jason Stolz led off with a bloop single to left-center and stole second. Three batters later with two outs, Brittle walked on six pitches, then Felder singled through the right side to plate Stolz, giving Clemson a 5-0 lead.

For the seventh inning in a row, the Tigers put their leadoff batter on base in the seventh inning when Shaffer led off with a double off the top of the fence in center. Phil Pohl followed with a double down the left-field line to score Shaffer.

The Blazers finally reached home plate in the eighth inning. Harry Clark led off with a single to left-center and advanced to second two batters later on pinch-hitter Ryan Prinzing’s single down the left-field line. Two batters later with two outs, John Frost singled to left field to score pinch-runner Chase Davis.

Stolz paced Clemson’s 11-hit attack by going 3-for-4 with a run. Felder went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs.

Frost and Tyler Mims had two hits apiece to lead UAB, who had eight hits in the game.

Clemson and UAB will play game-two of the doubleheader and the series-finale on Saturday at approximately 2:15 PM.