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No. 5 Clemson takes care of business against Western Carolina

May 9, 2018
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CLEMSON -- It wasn’t as smooth sailing as many people thought it would be.

“No more drama!” a distressed fan yelled when Western Carolina had the tying run at the plate in the ninth inning. After Clemson’s emotionally charged victory over Florida State on Monday, fans didn’t want any part of a late Catamount comeback.

Closer Owen Griffith secured the final two outs and fans were able to exhale as Clemson took care of its midweek business yet again.

The No. 5 Tigers took care of Western Carolina 10-8 in a game that was a back-and-forth affair for much of the evening. Clemson has now won 11 of its last 12 games.

Things were a little too close for comfort when the game was tied at seven apiece heading into the bottom of the sixth inning. Thanks to some clutch two-out hitting, Clemson was able to put three runs on the board in the frame and not look back from there.

“We were just good enough tonight to win,” Monte Lee said after his team’s 37th win of the year. “

It began with Kyle Wilkie, who seems to be money as of late when it comes to putting his bat on the ball with two outs. His two-out hit on Monday night set up Seth Beer for his game-tying home run.

Tonight, there was a little bit of luck involved as Wilkie checked his swing but still made contact on the first pitch he saw. The ball dribbled to the shortstop and a tough play wasn’t able to be made as Sam Hall crossed home plate to break the tie.

Wilkie, who went 3-for-5 with two infield singles, said after the game he had never hit a check-swing RBI before.

“That’s coach Lee’s pet peeve is check swinging,” Wilkie said as he apologized to his head coach immediately after.

But hey, you get it how you can in a game like what transpired.

Western Carolina didn’t want to make the mistake Florida State made on Tuesday night so they decided to intentionally walk Beer. The only problem was Chris Williams being right behind him.

Williams drove a double down the left-field line and cleared the bases to score two more runs and give Clemson the comfort it needed.

The Tigers batted 8-for-15 with two outs, including the clutch three RBIs in the sixth inning. It was a stat Lee didn’t know about until we told him.

“The big thing is putting together quality at-bats and understanding the inning is not over. It’s never over with us,” Lee said. “Proud of our guys with the consistency of our lineup and our offense right now has been really good.”

Each starter had a hit or scored a run except Patrick Cromwell who hit two of the harder balls of the night. Clemson had 12 hits to Western Carolina’ 11.

At least one team scored each inning until things slowed down in the seventh inning when Spencer Strider and Owen Griffith came in to close things out. Travis Marr secured his fifth win of the season.

Western Carolina started the game off with a two-run first inning, but Clemson answered with a five-run second inning that included a Logan Davidson two-run home run.

In his first at-bat since winning the series against Florida State, Jordan Greene swung at the first pitch he saw to score two on a stand-up double. He received a huge ovation from the fans.

Beer added to his 15th home run of the season in the fourth inning. This was more of his harder hit home runs that could have easily traveled over 425 feet if it weren’t for the batter’s eye in straightaway center field.

This weekend will be Clemson’s final home series of the season and if Clemson doesn’t host a regional for some reason, it will be fan’s last opportunity to see Beer in action.

“I’m just happy to play with these great group of guys and hopefully we can just go out there, compete, and have fun,” Beer said.

The series between Austin Peay begins Friday night at 6:30 PM.

 
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