The suddenly red-hot Clemson baseball team spotted Upstate an early 2-0 lead, then proceeded to score the next nine runs in a 9-2 win Wednesday night at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The Tigers got revenge for a 12-2 loss to the Spartans two months ago, and they improved their current winning streak to seven. And they broke a three-game losing streak in mid-week games.
The Spartans led 2-0 until the Tigers scored three in the bottom of the second on a RBI double by Kier Meredith and a two-run single by James Parker, part of a three-hit night for Parker. The Tigers added a run in the fourth as Sam Hall scored from third on a pass ball for a 4-2 lead.
It stayed that way until the eighth when the Tigers erupted for five runs on three hits. The big blow was a three run homer by Meredith giving him four RBIs on the night. Max Wagner later followed with a two-run double to close out the scoring.
Davis Sharpe started on the mound for Clemson in his first pitching appearance since March 12th. He threw 44 pitchers over two innings and allowed two runs on four hits. He struck out one and walked two. Nick Clayton (4-1) pitched the next four scoreless innings, allowing two hits, to earn the win. Ricky Williams, Geoffrey Gilbert and Nick Hoffman worked the final three innings allowing three hits. Hoffman earned his third save.
Sawyer Worrell started for the Spartans and went two innings. He took the loss to fall to 4-1.
The Tigers are now 22-18 and head to Georgia Tech this weekend. The Spartans drop to 30-10 and saw their seven game winning streak end. They travel to High Point this weekend.
