Solid Pitching Lifts Clemson to 2-1 Win Over Elon Wednesday

March 26, 2008

Clemson, SC –

Three Tiger pitchers combined to retire the last 18 batters, as Clemson topped Elon 2-1 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Wednesday in front of 4,502 fans. Craig Gullickson, Justin Sarratt, and Ryan Hinson yielded only one run, four hits, and no walks while striking out 13. The Tigers, who won the midweek series 2-0, improved to 16-7, while the Phoenix dropped to 19-6.

Gullickson (3-0) went 5.0 innings to pick up the win, allowing one run on four hits while striking out eight and walking none. Sarratt, who did not factor into the decision, pitched 2.0 perfect innings while striking out two. Hinson also pitched 2.0 perfect innings to record his first save of the season and second of his career.

Tom Porter (1-1) pitched 0.2 innings in relief, as he allowed two runs on two hits to take the loss.

Doug Hogan went 2-for-3 with one RBI to lead the Tigers, who totaled five hits. Donny Jobe led Elon at the plate with one hit and one RBI. Elon, who entered the series hitting .327 on the season, went just 9-for-61 (.148) in the two-game series.

Elon took a 1-0 lead in the third when Harry Austin hit a two-out triple to left-center and scored on Jobe’s single through the right side.

The Tigers took a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning. Alex Lee led off with a single to right field and moved to second on a groundout. Mike Freeman followed with a walk. Hogan then drove in Lee with a single to left, and both Freeman and Hogan moved up a base on the throw to the plate. Ben Paulsen drew a walk to load the bases, then Kyle Parker walked in Freeman.

After Clemson took the lead, Sarratt and Hinson retired the last 12 batters to preserve the one-run victory.

Clemson will return to ACC action on Friday when it travels to College Park, MD to face Maryland at 7:00 PM.