Tiger Bats Awaken in 11-3 Win over High Point Wednesday

Feb. 21, 2007

Clemson, SC – Second-ranked Clemson scored six runs in the third inning to overcome an early 2-0 deficit to defeat High Point 11-3 Wednesday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Wednesday. The Tigers improved to 3-1 and the Panthers fell to 2-5.

The game was halted in the bottom of the sixth inning due to thick fog that moved into the area. The start also was delayed by three hours and 36 minutes due to lightning and heavy rains.

D.J. Mitchell (1-0) limited the Panthers to three hits and two walks in relief en route to picking up his first career victory. The sophomore righthander also struck out six batters in 4.0 innings pitched. George Mason starter Eammon Portice (0-2) suffered the loss.

The Tigers provided Mitchell with all the run support he would need in the bottom half of the third inning, as they sent 11 batters to the plate and scored six times to take a 6-2 lead.

High Point had taken a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Chris Norwood’s sacrifice fly plated Robby Kuzdale for the first run and Billy Alvino’s double scored the second run.

Clemson exploded for six runs in the third. Addison Johnson singled to the pitcher to lead off the inning and reached second on a groundout by Brad Chalk. Johnson scored on Taylor Harbin’s RBI single up the middle. Andy D’Alessio then tied the score with a double down the right-field line that plated Harbin. Marquez Smith followed with a triple to right, plating D’Alessio. Ben Paulsen then recorded his first career hit, a towering home run to right field.

The Tigers added three runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by Doug Hogan’s two-run home run to left field to build a 9-2 lead.

Clemson added two insurance runs in the sixth thanks in part to back-to-back-to-back singles by Smith, Paulsen, and Stan Widmann.

Clemson returns to action on Friday when it hosts Pacific at Doug Kingsmore Stadium beginning at 4 p.m.