Tigers Top No. 3 Cardinals 7-2

DURHAM, N.C. – Clemson scored five runs in the first two innings and Zack Erwin struck out 11 batters in the Tigers’ 7-2 victory over No. 3 Louisville in the ACC Tournament at Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Thursday. The Tigers, who upped their record to 1-1 in the tournament, improved to 32-26 on the season. The Cardinals, who fell to 1-1 in the tourney, dropped to 43-15 in 2015.

Reed Rohlman started the scoring with a two-run single in the first inning and Robert Jolly added a run-scoring single. After Louisville scored a run in the top of the second inning, Steven Duggar’s sacrifice fly and Tyler Krieger’s run-scoring single in the bottom of the second inning gave Clemson a 5-1 lead. Weston Wilson added a two-run double in the fifth inning.

Zack Erwin (7-4) earned the win by allowing just six hits, one run and no walks with a season-high-tying 11 strikeouts in 8.0 innings pitched. Cardinal starter Kyle Funkhouser (7-5) suffered the loss, as he yielded nine hits, seven runs (five earned) and two walks with three strikeouts in 5.0 innings pitched.

“I thought we played exceptionally well tonight,” said head coach Jack Leggett. “(I’m) proud of our team. We bounced back after last night. Zack was outstanding on the mound. I thought he was really in control. I thought our offense was right on the mark right from the very beginning. We did some really good things offensively early in the game and then continually throughout the game.”

The Tigers play No. 8 seed North Carolina on Friday at 3 p.m. on RSN and ESPN3. Clemson is the designated visiting team and will occupy the first-base dugout.

[View the story “Louisville vs. Clemson (May 21, 2015)” on Storify]