CLEMSON, SC - Unlike the Tigers' first two games of the season, in which they outscored Indiana 28-4, Sunday's game would test the young team's metal and ability to win a close, back-and-forth game. Like Saturday, the Hoosiers jumped out to a fast lead with another solo HR in the 1st off Nick Hoffmann. The Tigers would tie in the bottom half thanks to a sac fly by Grice.
Indiana regained the lead 2-1 in the 3rd with a 2-out single, but Grice once again had the answer in the bottom half with a 2-out bomb to right, his first HR of the season, to give the Tigers a 3-2 lead. Monte brought Jackson Lindley in to start the 4th on the mound, and he cruised for a couple innings, but Monte made a questionable move (I questioned it when he made it) to bring Ammons in from the pen after Lindley issued a 2-out walk in the 6th. It was the first appearance of the season for Ammons, and it was a disastrous one. He hit his first batter, then gave up a double to tie the game and a walk to load the bases. Monte quickly turned to sophomore Alex Edmondson, a hard-throwing closer who struck out the side in the 9th on Friday. He walked in the go-ahead run on 4 pitches but then settled down to strike out the next batter on an 0-2 pitch.
With 2 outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 7th, Monte put in Tyler Corbitt to pinch hit, and the move paid off with a walk to tie the game. Max Wagner, who hit the Tigers' only HR on Saturday, struck out to strand them loaded.
After Blackwell and Brewer led off the 10th with singles, a ground out by Ingle moved them to 2nd and 3rd, and Hawkins was able to drive in the winning run with a sac fly to right. Hawkins struck out 5 times in the season opener on Friday, but he rebounded in a big way on Saturday and Sunday! As for Grice, not only did he go 2-3 with 3 RBI's and the Tigers' only HR, but he also pitched the 10th inning and struck out his first batter!
The Tigers probably should have won this game easier because they were robbed of a few runs on great defensive plays by the Hoosiers, and they left the bases loaded a couple of times. But it was great to see them win a close one after a couple blowouts, and that will bode well for their confidence later on. Grice, Ingle and Blackwell all had an outstanding series at the plate. Grice batted .500 with a HR, 4 walks and 6 RBI's. Ingle was .417 with 4 walks and 5 RBI's. Blackwell, a grad transfer from Dayton, was .429 with a HR, 3 walks and 3 RBI's.
The 3-0 Tigers will host Monte Lee's alma mater, College of Charleston, on Tuesday and then host Hartford this weekend. The World Champion Atlanta Braves will be at Doug Kingsmore with the trophy on Sunday to celebrate their title, and fans will be able to get photos with the trophy.
Post-game interviews are below!
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