(Clemson University Athletics Communications)
North Carolina’s five-run inning proved to be enough to doom Clemson to its fifth straight loss, Saturday. The Tigers comeback fell a run shy as the Tar Heels took Game 2 of the series at Chapel Hill, 5-4. Clemson (5-7, 1-4) is 1-4 this season in games decided by one run.
Ty Olenchuk (1-2, 5.06) is saddled with the loss after losing his touch in the fourth inning. The freshman righthander sailed through the first three frames unscathed, surrendering just two hits, before allowing the next six batters to reach in a disastrous fourth inning. UNC (9-4, 5-3) posted five runs on three homers, a walk and two singles before southpaw Mat Clark arrived to extinguish the flames. Clark went on to shut down the Heels for the next 4 and 1/3 innings, striking out seven, but the damage had been done. Clemson rallied with three runs in the fifth but couldn’t come up with the big hit in the late innings.
After walking once and reaching base just six times in the Friday night loss, the Tigers adjusted, drawing ten free passes, Saturday. But Clemson couldn’t cash in on the opportunities, going 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position, leaving nine runners stranded.
Clemson will look to salvage a game in the series at 1 p.m., Sunday.
