Tigers Sweep Wake Forest With 4-3 Saturday

Winston-Salem, NC –

Brad McCann’s RBI single capped a two-run rally in the ninth inning to lead #19 Clemson over Wake Forest 4-3 Saturday afternoon at a chilly and windy Gene Hooks Stadium. With the win, Clemson swept the series and won 11 of its final 13 ACC games. The Tigers improved to 38-18 overall, 15-9 in the ACC. Wake Forest fell to 29-22 overrall, 8-15 in ACC play.

Righty reliever Jeff Hahn (5-6) allowed just one run in 4.0 innings to earn the win. Paul Harrelson struck out the only batter he faced to pick up his sixth save of the season. Freshman lefty starter Robert Rohrbaugh allowed just two runs in 4.2 innings pitched in his first career start for the Tigers. Senior lefthander Seth Hill (2-6) took the loss despite pitching his first career complete game.

Steve Pyzik got the scoring started when he hit a solo homer to left field in the third inning, the first of his career. The senior catcher from Mount Airy, MD and #9 batter in the lineup hit the long ball in his 372nd career at bat.

Wake Forest evened the score 1-1 in the bottom of the third inning. Ryan Hubbard grounded a two-out single through the left side, plating Chris Getz, who led off the inning by being hit by a pitch.

Getz then gave the Demon Deacons a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning when he lined a two-out single to centerfield, plating Brad Scioletti.

Clemson tied the score 2-2 in the fifth inning. After Pyzik and Garrick Evans led off with with walks, Russell Triplett reached on a bunt single. Then Michael Johnson hit a deep fly ball to left-center, bringing home Pyzik.

Wake Forest to the lead in the eighth inning when Ben Ingold singled through the right side, plating pinch-runner Casey Sterk.

Clemson regained the lead in the ninth inning. Pyzik led off legging out an infield single. After Evans drew a walk, Johnson hit a long single to the right-field gap, plating Evans from second and tying the score. Then McCann lined a 2-2 pitch to left field to plate Triplett and give the Tigers a 4-3 lead.

The Demon Deacons mounted a two-out rally in the bottom of the ninth. After Jamie D’Antona and Ryan Johnson, Wake Forest’s top two hitters, were retired, pinch-hitter Doug Riepe was hit by a pitch and Jeff Ruziecki walked. Paul Harrelson entered the game and struck out Ingold to end the game.

Evans led the Tigers with two doubles, giving him four in the series. Brad McCann’s also had three hits, extending his hitting streak to 15 games. David Slevin upped his hitting streak to 18 games as well.

Clemson will travel directly to the ACC Tournament at Salem, VA Sunday. Clemson will be the #4 seed in the tourney and play the #5 seed North Carolina at 10:00 AM Wednesday.