Clemson vs Florida Gulf Coast Baseball Recap

Florida Gulf Coast 4, Clemson 2

The Clemson Tigers dropped game one of their series, 4-2, to the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles after bullpen struggles and a lack of clutch hitting on Saturday night in Clemson, South Carolina.

Eagles rightfielder Luke Smerciak hit a no-doubter off Clemson reliever David Haselden, a 2-run home run that gave the visitors their final margin of victory in the top of the eighth inning. Haselden had slapped his glove in disgust on the previous pitch after what looked like a strikeout to him and the Clemson bench. A strikeout would have registered the second out with a runner on second, but the ump called a ball on the pitch, and the next one went over the outfield wall. 

Clemson had chances in the bottom of the eighth and ninth to get back into the game. Tigers third basemen John Hinson reached third base with 2 outs in the eighth, and second basemen Mike Freeman stranded runners on second and third with 2 outs in the ninth to end the game.

Florida Gulf Coast threw its lefty ace Chris Sale (projected to be a top-10 MLB draft prospect) in this game, and he did not disappoint the gallery of scouts present at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Sale struck out 10 Clemson batters with only 2 walks on 127 pitches in 8 innings of work. He shut down the middle of the Tigers order - John Hinson, Kyle Parker, and Jeff Schaus - which went a combined 0 for 11.

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Clemson ace Casey Harman’s string of bad luck continued with his third no-decision in his last four starts (the one decision being a loss to North Carolina last week). He is winless since April 2, when he got a victory over Boston College. Harman gave up a two-run home run in the fourth, and he then escaped trouble with runners in scoring position in the sixth and seventh innings with inning-ending double plays.

Clemson coach Jack Leggett shook up the lineup before the game, but did not see results. Leggett sat centerfielder Chris Epps and had first baseman Will Lamb hit in the leadoff spot (0-4, 1 run). He moved Parker from cleanup to third in the lineup (0-3, walk); Hinson from fifth to fourth (0 for 4); and Schaus from third to fifth (0 for 4).

The Tigers and Eagles play a doubleheader on Sunday with games at 1:00 and (approx.) 4:30 Eastern time. Clemson has right-hander Scott Weismann (3-2, 4.53 ERA) going against Florida Gulf Coast’s righty Pete Woodworth (6-1, 5.30 ERA) in game one of the day. For the late game, the Tigers are throwing righty Dominic Leone (2-0, 3.41 ERA) and the Eagles will counter with right-hander Richie Erath (5-1, 3.23 ERA).

By: Brandon Rink
DFN Sports Guest Writer