The Citadel Rallies From 11 Runs Down to Defeat No. 19 Clemson

March 3, 1999

Clemson, SC – The Citadel scored 14 unanswered runs to down #19 Clemson 18-15 on a chilly and windy Wednesday afternoon at Tiger Field. The Citadel improved to 4-5 while the Tigers fell to 5-4.

After allowing 15 runs in the first four innings, Bulldog righthander Jay Morgan cooled the hot Tiger bats, allowing no runs and just three hits in the final 5.0 innings to earn the win. Reliever Thomas Boozer (1-2) suffered the loss.

Every Citadel starter had at least one hit on a day that saw the wind keep many batted balls from leaving the ballpark. Philip Hartig and Michael Harris had four hits apiece, and Morgan and Griffin had four RBIs apiece. The Tigers were led at the plate by freshman Khalil Greene, who had three hits and four RBIs. Henri Stanley, Kurt Bultmann, and Justin Singleton also had three hits apiece.

The Tigers got on the board in the first inning after The Citadel scored a run in the first on Aaron Haigler’s RBI single to left field. Brian Wiley, who led the nation in strikeouts per nine innings pitched in ’98 and entered the game with a 2.16 ERA, walked the bases loaded and allowed seven runs in 0.2 innings. Greene, the Tigers hottest hitter to start the season, drove in the first two runs with a single up the middle. Brian Ellis later cleared the bases with a double down the right field line.

Bultmann led off the second inning with a double to left center. It was the senior’s 64th double as a Tiger, which moved him into second place all-time in the Clemson recordbooks. Bultmann, who added his 65th double later in the game, trails only Gary Burnham (1994-97), who hit 77 career two-baggers.

Down 15-4 entering the fifth inning, The Citadel rallied with seven runs. Hartig led off with a homer to left center. Morgan drove in the second run with a double to left center and Griffin followed with a two-run double. It was Griffin’s first collegiate hit. Stuart Jordan drove in another run with an RBI single to left field. Hartig then singled up the middle to drive in two more runs.

The Bulldogs, who entered the game hitting just .248 as a team, took the lead in the seventh inning with five runs. Aaron Haigler doubled to left center, plating two runs, to cut the Tiger lead to just 15-14. Back-to-back-to-back RBI singles by Harris, Morgan, and Griffin gave the Bulldogs a 17-15 lead.

Clemson will play host to Liberty on Friday, March 5 and Saturday, March 6. The Friday game will begin at 3:00. On Saturday, the two will play a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 (two nine-inning games).

The Citadel 1 0 3 0 7 1 5 0 1 – 18 21 3 Clemson 7 2 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 – 15 17 2

Wiley, Colvard (1), Hamer (3), Mincey (4), Morgan (5) and Morgan, Higgins (5). Adams, Proto (5), Reba (5), Boozer (7), Additon (9) and Ellis. Win – Morgan (1-0). Loss – Boozer (1-2). 2B – Griffin (1), Haigler (4), Morgan 2 (3), Ellis (2), Bultmann 2 (6), Singleton (3). 3B – Stanley (1). HR – Hartig (3). Time: 3:30. Attendance: 1,341. Temp.: 440. Winds: 15-20 mph and gusting from right to left.