Photos from Clemson Athletics
Game 1: UCF put the brakes on Clemson’s winning streak with a 4-2 victory over the Tigers at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, Saturday. The two clubs were knotted at two runs apiece when the game was suspended after eight-plus innings, Friday. The teams had previously endured a 76-minute delay after weather halted play in the fifth inning.
The Tigers were behind 2-1 before Cam Cannarella evened it up with an RBI single in the home half of the fifth. Both pitching staffs then held the lineups in check until play resumed, Saturday. Tristan Smith inherited a pair of runners from Jackson Lindley in the ninth and both scored after Smith surrendered a single and plunked a batter with the bases full. Clemson’s bats came up empty in the bottom of the ninth as the Tigers dropped their first game of the season.
Box Score
Game 2: After Clemson’s offense fell flat in the series opener, it was pitching and defense that let the Tigers down in a 10-7 loss to UCF in the second game, Saturday.
Clemson (4-2) dug itself a 6-1 hole before trimming it to 6-5 with a four-run fifth. The Tigers tied it the next inning when Caden Grice scored on Blake Wright’s sacrifice fly. UCF answered Clemson’s rally with one of its own in the eighth. But much of the damage absorbed by Clemson was self-inflicted including two errors, two hit batsmen and a passed ball. The Knights plated four runs in the frame on just a pair of singles.
Benjamin Blackwell led the Tigers offensive attack with a single, two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored. Nathan Hall also picked up two RBI.
Clemson will look to salvage a game in the series at 1 p.m., Sunday.
