Baseball
NO.4 CLEMSON BEATS LIPSOMB 12-5 TO OPEN NCAA REGIONAL WITH 17TH STRAIGHT WIN
- 2023-06-03 15:39:27
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CLEMSON, S.C. - The Tigers opened NCAA play as the No.4 overall seed and the hottest team in America, riding a 16-game win streak to the ACC Championship. They have had the best offense in the nation over the last couple months, and Friday was no different in front of a crowd of 5,322 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, the best Clemson crowd in years.
The Tigers struck first with a 2-run HR by Grice in the 1st, his 17th of the season and 5th in the last 8 games. Amazingly, it was his fourth 2-out, 2-run HR in the 1st inning in the last 8 games! I'm not sure if anyone's ever done that before. He told me after the game that he wasn't aware of that fact, but he gave all the credit to his teammates for getting on base, as he always does. He and Amick were named First-Team All-Americans this week, the first multi First-Teamers for the Tigers since 2016, the last time they won the ACC Tournament. Amick would flex his muscles as well later in the game!
Lipscomb answered with a 2-out single off Gordon in the 2nd to make it 2-1, and they tied the game 2-2 with a sac fly in the 3rd. Amick answered with a sac fly in the bottom half to retake the lead 3-2. Lipsomb came into the game with 4 players who had at least 16 HR's this season, and they displayed their power against the Tigers. Gordon gave up back-to-back HR's to star the 5th, giving the Bisons their first lead of the game, 4-3. Gordon struck out the next batter and was relieved by Clayton, who loaded the bases but was able to get out of the inning with the one-run deficit. Clayton has been the beneficiary of relieving Gordon several times this season with a lead, tie or deficit with the Tigers going on to win, and that's why Gordon has a 2-4 record and Clayton's is 8-0!
The Tigers responded, as they have done so often during this win streak, in the bottom half of the 5th with a sac fly by Grice and a big 2-out double by Bertram for 2 more runs to put the Tigers back ahead 6-4. Clayton gave up a 2-out solo HR in the 6th to Vergara, his second of the game and 23rd of the season, to make it 6-5. The first one he hit off Gordon cleared the roof of the grand stands and still hasn't landed!
After Grice doubled in the 7th and stole 3rd, Bakich turned to small ball, which he has used so effectively this season. Bertram laid down a perfect sac bunt for an insurance run to make it 7-5. Garris relieved Clayton in the 7th and struck out both batters he faced, but after he gave up a one-out walk in the 8th, Bakich wasn't taking any chances in such a critical game. He brought in closer Ryan Ammons, and he got out of the inning after a dropped fly by Crighton. It was the Tigers' 3rd error of the game, a real rarity this season.
The Tigers' offense almost always seems to put together a big inning, and it came in the 8th. Blackwell led off with a single and stole 2nd. Starbuck pinch hit for Crighton and laid down a perfect sac bunt to move Blackwell to 3rd with one out. Ingle hit a 2-out single to make it 8-5, Taylor walked on full count and Grice walked on 4 pitches. That set the stage for All-American Amick with the bases loaded and 2 outs. He crushed a grand slam on top of the batting cages in right for his 13th HR of the season to make it 12-5. It was his first grand slam since his walk-off slam to beat GA State, which elevated him from a reserve role to every-day starter and was one of the big turning points of the season. With the big lead, Bailey relieved Ammons to start the 9th. He gave up a 2-out double but struck out 2 on 6 pitches to end the game.
The Tigers scored 9 of their 12 runs with 2 outs, batting 7-15 (.467) with 2 outs in the game. That has been one of the common denominators of this 17-game win streak for the Tigers, who have won 22 of their last 23. The pitchers gave up 3 HR's, but they were all solo shots. The Tigers will play at 6:00 on ESPN2 against the winner of No.16 Tennessee and Charlotte, who they beat 9-5 back in February. Tennessee was the No.1 overall seed last season.
Post-game interviews are below!
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