Clemson endured its first loss of the season as East Tennessee State was able to get to starter Mack Anglin with a run in each of the first two innings on their way to a 5-3 win at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, Tuesday. The Tigers bounced back to tie the game before ETSU struck again in the fifth inning. An RBI double off Nick Hoffman gave the Bucs a lead they would never relinquish and saddled the freshman with the loss.
Despite the loss, the Tigers pitching staff still boasts some impressive numbers. The club ERA sits at 1.23, opposing batters are hitting just .189 and Clemson pitchers have fanned 102 in 73 innings.
The offense, on the other hand, has yet to get untracked this season. The Tigers have only produced three runs/game and the team batting average is .243. To this point, the lineup is being carried by Kier Meredith (.444 average, .571 on-base percentage), Elijah Henderson (.407 average, .556 slugging percentage) and Davis Sharpe (.412 average, .529 slugging percentage).
Meredith (4-5, run, RBI) rapped out four of Clemson’s 11 hits. Sharpe also reached base four times with three singles and a hit by pitch. Adam Hackenburg doubled and drove in two of the three Tigers runs.
Clemson (7-1) will now turn its focus on rival South Carolina. Game 1 of the series is at Founders Park, 7 p.m., Friday.
