Tigers bash their way to doubleheader sweep of N.C. State

CLEMSON — There will be moments this season when Clemson’s pitching staff struggles, a given considered its youth and inexperience.

With more efforts like Saturday, though, those problems can be minimized.

Facing N.C. State, the ACC’s best-hitting team, the No. 12 Tigers blasted their way to a doubleheader sweep, piling up 24 runs, capped off by game two’s seven-run, eighth-inning rally.

Clemson took game one, 12-7, and game two, 12-6; the Tigers go for the sweep at 1 p.m. today in Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Clemson (12-1, 2-0 ACC) has scored at least 12 runs in four straight games; the Wolfpack fell to 11-3, 0-2.

“We know we can hit,” said third baseman John Hinson. “We’ve just got to sit back and hit good pitches. We’re a good hitting team. As long as pitching and defense comes we’ve got a chance to win every single day.”

Saturday’s offensive onslaught was typified by the Tigers’ final time at bat.

Clemson trailed 6-5 and hadn’t led, stranding nine runners through seven innings.

Hinson started with a double off reliever Anthony Tzamtzis, who promptly walked DH Chris Epps and second baseman Mike Freeman to load the bases.

Reliever Nick Rice entered the game and walked left fielder Jeff Schaus, forcing in a run and tying the game. After right fielder Kyle Parker grounded to third, forcing Hinson out at home, center fielder Wilson Boyd stepped to the plate against new pitcher Vance Williams.

He went down 0-2, but worked the count to 3-2, then lashed a single to right, scoring Epps and Freeman for the Tigers’ first lead.

“It’s just a situation where I’m not going to let him beat me,” Boyd said. “I’m going to do whatever I can to get a ball in play, get a run for us. We work on that every day in practice; just battling and being tough, putting the bat on the ball.”

Boyd’s big bash seemed to deflate State. With two out, shortstop Brad Miller walked and Williams plunked catcher Phil Pohl, forcing in another run.

Hinson finished the rally with a bases-clearing double to right center. Clemson scored seven times in the inning on only three hits, with four walks and Pohl’s plunking.

“That’s a backbreaker, really tough on the pitcher and the defense,” Boyd said of his hit. “I think that gave us a little momentum and took it away from them.”

They’re building momentum throughout the lineup; in 12 games, the Tigers have scored at least 10 runs seven times.

“Guys are seeing the ball pretty good right now and we keep coming at you,” coach Jack Leggett said. “We’ve got some guys in the lineup, both lefties and righties, that are pretty good, and I think when one gets hot, it leaks into another guy, keeps on going and gets contagious. Hopefully we can keep it going.”

In game one, Clemson mashed N.C. State starter Cory Mazzoni, who entered with a 2-0 record and 2.16 ERA.

The Wolfpack scored two first-inning runs off Clemson starter Casey Harman, but the Tigers came right back, tying the game in the bottom half thanks to Parker’s sixth home run of the year, a two-run shot over the left-field grandstands.

Trailing 3-2 in the third, Mazzoni pitched himself into trouble. Following Schaus’ leadoff single, he walked Parker and Boyd to load the bases.

That brought up Miller, who connected for his first homer of the season, a no-doubt grand slam to right field for a 7-2 Clemson lead.

The Tigers eventually built a 10-2 advantage before the Wolfpack rallied, scoring four runs in the eighth (all unearned) off reliever Kevin Kyle to make the score respectable.

Harman improved to 3-0, allowing only three hits and no runs over his final five innings.

Boyd finished the day with five RBI and three runs; Miller had six RBI and three runs.

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