Tigers Blank Georgia Southern 4-0 Saturday in Keith LeClair Invitational

Greenville, NC – Four Tiger pitchers allowed just three hits as #11 Clemson defeated Georgia Southern 4-0 Saturday afternoon in the first of four games in the Keith LeClair Invitational at Greenville, NC. The Tigers evened their season record at 1-1, while Georgia Southern fell to 5-6.

The game lasted just one hour, 49 minutes and was attended by 556 fans. The game duration was the shortest nine-inning game Clemson played since April 1, 1988, when the Tigers defeated North Carolina 5-2 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in a game that also lasted one hour, 49 minutes.

Jason Berken pitched masterfully in his first outing of the sesaon. In chilly weather reminiscent of his hometown of De Pere, WI, Berken pitched 6.0 innings (83 pitches), allowing just two hits, no runs, and no walks while striking out seven to earn the victory. Robert Rohrbaugh, Steven Jackson, and Adam Walker each pitched an inning to close out the game. John Carroll (0-2) went the distance for the Eagles, allowing just seven hits, four runs (two earned), and no walks while striking out five, as he suffered the loss.

The Tigers got on the board in the third inning when Garrick Evans laced a double to left-center, plating Herman Demmink. Demmink had reached on a fielding error. Clemson tacked on another run when Travis Storrer grounded out, plating Evans.

Clemson added two more runs in the sixth inning on a two-run single by Kris Harvey. Storrer led off the inning with a single up the middle, Brad McCann followed with another single, and Lou Santangelo sacrificed the runners over to set up Harvey. McCann’s single extended his hitting streak to 22 games, tied for the fifth-longest streak in Tiger history.

McCann and Evans led the Tigers with two hits apiece, while leadoff batter James Payne had two of the Eagle hits.

Clemson will play East Carolina at Harrington Field beginning later today at approximately 6:00 PM. Livestats will be available on East Carolina’s website at www.ecupirates.com.