Baseball
NO.4 CLEMSON STOMPS HEELS 10-4 FOR 15TH STRAIGHT WIN, ADVANCES TO ACC CHAMPIONSHIP
- 2023-05-28 14:04:35
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DURHAM, NC - The Tigers swept UNC last weekend to finish the regular season and got a rematch with the Heels, who upset No.8 UVA, in the ACC Semifinal. Grice gave up just one run in a career-long 7.1 innings in the last regular season game against the Heels, and Bakich put his ace on the mound for this one as well. Grice gave up a couple homers for 3 runs but was almost as impressive, allowing just 4 hits in 7 innings with 9 K's.
The Tigers got off to a red-hot start, scoring 5 runs in the 1st. After Ingle and Taylor singled, Grice hit a 2-run double. Amick followed that with a homer, and Wright hit a 2-our HR to make it 5-0. Grice gave up a double in the 2nd to make it 5-1, but the Tigers responded with 2 more runs in the bottom half to make it 7-1 thanks to an Amick triple. He already had the two hardest pieces to become the first Clemson player ever to cycle, but it was not to be.
After Cannarella tripled in the 3rd, Ingle drove him in with a single to make it 8-1. Ingle was 3-3 but had to leave the game after the hit because he fouled a pitch off his knee. Crighton replaced him in right field. I asked Bakich about Ingle after the game, and they are hopeful he'll be able to catch in the championship.
Grice gave up solo homers in the 5th and 6th to make it 8-3, but the Tigers answered in the bottom of the 6th with a 2-out, 2-run triple by Cannarella, his second of the game, to make it 10-3. Smith went 1-2-3 in the 8th, and Baily gave up a leadoff HR in the 9th but was able to close the game with a strikeout swinging.
The Tigers amazingly left 15 on base but still scored 10 runs! Amick had a HR, triple and 4 RBI's. Taylor reached base all 6 times. The Tigers have won 15 straight, 20 of 21, and will play in the ACC Championship at noon on Sunday. They will face No.11 Miami, who upset No.1 Wake 7-2 in the other Semifinal. It will be the first meeting of the two teams this season. The Tigers will go for their 11th ACC Tournament title, 2 more than any other school. Their last was right here in Durham in 2016 in Monte Lee's first season, and that earned them a top-8 NCAA seed! I just hope we don't have a repeat of that 8-hour, 19-minute marathon. The Tigers beat FSU 18-13 with 3 rain delays in the longest game in ACC Tournament history. I was in the press box from 11am until 9:00 at night!
Highlights and my post-game interviews are below!
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