Eight-Run Inning Propels No. 9 Tigers Over Spartans 12-5

No. 9 Clemson overcame an early 4-0 deficit with eight runs in the second inning to defeat UNC Greensboro 12-5 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Friday afternoon. The Tigers, who took a 1-0 lead in the series and won their seventh game in a row, improved to 11-1, while the Spartans fell to 8-5.

The Spartans plated the game’s first four runs in the top of the second inning on two-out, run-scoring singles by Mitchell Smith, Zachary Walsh, Trey Truitt and Jeremy Wolf. Jarren Purify responded with a three-run homer, his second of the year, in the bottom of the second inning. Cam Cannarella made it back-to-back homers with his third long ball of the year to tie the score 4-4. After Will Taylor scored on a wild pitch to give Clemson the lead, Andrew Ciufo lined a two-run single. Jacob Hinderleider added a two-out, run-scoring single in the frame.

In the fourth inning, Nolan Nawrocki extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a single, then Hinderleider ripped a two-run single. Caleb Cozart belted a two-out, run-scoring triple in the top of the fifth inning, then Ciufo lofted a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth inning. Jimmy Obertop added a two-out, run-scoring double in the seventh inning.

Rocco Reid (1-0) earned his first career win by tossing 2.1 hitless and scoreless innings in relief with one strikeout. Spartan starter Noah Chapman (1-1) suffered the loss, as he yielded seven runs on four hits in 1.1 innings pitched.

The series continues Saturday at 2 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.