Top-Ranked Tigers Take Series With 9-4 Win Over Mercer Sunday

Feb. 26, 2006

Clemson, SC- Top-ranked Clemson totaled 14 hits, including seven doubles, on the way to a 9-4 win over Mercer in game two of a doubleheader Sunday in front of 5,569 fans at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The Tigers won the series 2-1 and improved to 5-1 overall, while the Bears fell to 9-4.

Andy D’Alessio led the way for Clemson, as he was 3-for-4 with two doubles, three RBIs, and two runs scored. Tyler Colvin, Alex Burg, and Herman Demmink each had two hits for the Tigers. Eric Renfroe was 2-for-3 with two runs scored for Mercer.

Josh Cribb (2-0) pitched 6.0 innings, and gave up three runs (two earned) on five hits to earn the win for the Tigers. Hunter Abercrombie allowed eight runs on 10 hits in 4.2 innings pitched, and took the loss for the Bears, falling to 3-1.

Sean McCahill doubled to lead off the game for the Bears, and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Eric Renfroe. Shawn Barrett hit an RBI groundout to short that scored McCahill. It was the first run scored off of a Clemson starting pitcher this season.

Demmink led off the first with a single through the right side, and moved to second when Brad Chalk beat out an infield single. Colvin loaded the bases with a bunt down the third base line for a single. With one out, Marquez Smith hit a sacrifice fly to right that scored Demmink, and then D’Alessio hit a two-run double down the right field line to score Chalk and Colvin.

The Bears added a run in the fourth. Renfroe and Barrett both singled to begin the inning. After a fly out moved Renfroe to third, Andrew Einert reached on a fielder’s choice, scoring Renfroe.

D’Alessio doubled with one out in the fourth, and then scored on a single through the right side by Burg. It was Burg’s first career hit as a Tiger.

Clemson exploded for four runs in the fifth. Demmink doubled to center to lead off the inning, and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Chalk. Colvin doubled down the right field line to score Demmink. After a groundout by Travis Storrer, Colvin scored on a double to left-center by Smith. D’Alessio followed with a single to right-center on an 0-2 pitch, which scored Smith. The Bears then brought in reliever Kyle Johnston, and Burg greeted him with a double to left-center that scored D’Alessio. The Tigers hit four doubles in the inning.

Mercer added an unearned run in the sixth. Renfroe singled and stole second with one out. After Renfroe moved to third on a groundout, Josh Thompson hit a sharp grounder to third with two outs, but Demmink was unable to handle the short hop, scoring Renfroe.

Burg walked to lead off the eighth, and went to third on a throwing error on a failed pick off attempt by Mike Narveson. Pinch-hitter Doug Hogan’s sacrifice fly to left scored Burg. Jameson Smith also came on as a pinch-hitter and hit an infield single, and moved to third on a double down the left field line by pinch-hitter D.J. Mitchell, who was making his first plate appearance as a Tiger. Colvin hit a sharp line drive to right that was caught to end the inning.

The Bears added a run in the ninth on a sacrifice fly by Jason Lowey that scored Barrett.

Alex Martin and Ryan Hinson each pitched 1.0 scoreless innings for the Tigers.

Clemson will travel to Mount Pleasant, SC to take on the College of Charleston Friday at 5:00 PM.