Baseball
AMICK HOMERS WITH 3 RBI'S AS NO.18 CLEMSON BEATS NO.22 LOUISVILLE 6-3 TO OPEN SERIES
- 2023-05-06 19:50:34
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CLEMSON, SC - After winning 11 of their last 14 games including their last 4 ACC series, the Tigers entered the rankings for the first time this season, and their RPI shot up 10 spots to No.12. They have amazingly put themselves in position to host an NCAA Regional but would need to finish the regular season strong to do so.
With freshman Etan Darden on the mound, the Cards took a 1-0 lead in the 3rd on a 2-out double. In the 4th, Taylor scored to tie the game with heady base running on a muffed throw to 1st with 2 outs. The Cards retook the lead 3-1 on a 2-run HR after a hit batter in the 6th, but the Tigers quickly responded as they have done so many times during this win streak. In the bottom half, Amick hit a 2-run HR, his 7th of the season, to tie the game after a walk by Grice. Amick has been perhaps the biggest storyline of the season for the Tigers this season, having gone from a non-starter to the most dangerous bat in their lineup, and his emergence has certainly coincided with the Tigers' ascension over the past couple months.
After Taylor's good base running tied the game, the Tigers' made a couple base-running mistakes that cost them a run or two. Cannarella slipped rounding 3rd and might have scored had he not been thrown out. On another, Blackwell was thrown out at the plate and most definitely would have scored on a single by Ingle had he stayed at 3rd. The Tigers were also robbed of a run at the plate when Bertram seemingly slid safely at home on a wild pitch. It was a terrific slide and although the replays showed no conclusive evidence that he was tagged on the helmet, the umpires made a terrible call to overturn the safe call, depriving the Tigers of the go-ahead run.
However, the Tigers did not dwell on the bad call and took their first lead of the game in the 7th when Taylor walked on full count with the bases loaded. Grice was then hit by a pitch for another run, and Amick hit a sac fly to make it 6-3. Garris came in to pitch the 7th and was thus credited with the win, improving to 4-0 on the season. Ammons got the final out of the 8th and closed the 9th with his 3rd save since returning from injury. Freshman Cam Cannarella, the other biggest story of the season, was 4-5 and Taylor was 3-4. Bakich pinch-hit Crighton for Corbitt, and he went 2-2 including the leadoff single that began the Tigers' 3-run rally in the 7th.
The Tigers are in great shape for the rest of the series from a pitching standpoint, having been able to save relievers like Clayton, Olenchuk and Hughes, who have all been pitching well of late. Even Ammons, who closed the game, only threw 16 pitches, so he should be available on Sunday if they need him. The Tigers have won 12 of their last 15 games and will go for their 5th straight ACC series win at 2:00 on Saturday. My post-game interviews are below!
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