Clemson vs SC-Upstate Baseball Recap

Clemson 22, SC-Upstate 4

With a seven-run second inning, the Clemson Tigers (24-14, 10-8 ACC) throttled the SC-Upstate Spartans (13-30) by a 22-4 score, breaking a five-game losing streak in the process on Wednesday evening.

Clemson rightfielder Kyle Parker hit a grand slam in the second to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead. The big bomb further stoked the fires of discussion surrounding Parker, who is considering a jump to Major League Baseball this season instead of staying on as the returning quarterback for the Tigers' 2010 football season. The inning started with Tiger shortstop Brad Miller drawing a lead-off walk and scoring off a throwing error. A fielder’s choice and two walks loaded the bases, and Parker’s home run blew the game wide open. SC-Upstate was on its third pitcher by the time of the Parker at-bat and struggled all game to say the least.

Clemson third basemen John Hinson hit three home runs for seven RBIs against the Spartans and went 5 for 6 in the game. Hinson has 8 homers and 43 RBIs on the season. He was one of a number of Tigers with superb offensive performances as the boys from the ACC knocked out 5 home runs and 18 hits in this lopsided affair.

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Clemson coach Jack Leggett used the game to work out the pitching staff as starter David Haselden got the win after pitching two scoreless innings. Freshman Jonathan Meyer went one inning and gave up a three-run homer. Freshman Scott Firth, junior Alex Frederick, and sophomore Will Lamb each threw scoreless middle innings; Dominic Leone gave up a run in an inning of work; and Tiger pitchers Kevin Brady and Tomas Cruz pitched the final two scoreless innings of the blowout win.

The Tigers needed a strong performance in this one to get on the winning track going into a crucial home weekend series with the North Carolina Tar Heels (23-16, 6-12 ACC). Both teams are coming off the wrong end of an ACC road series sweep, as the Tigers lost all three at Georgia Tech while the Heels came out with nothing at Miami. Both teams, with a series win, can get back into the picture for regional hosting and improve their standing for the ACC Tournament with only four ACC series left for each team. Neither pitching staff has performed in ACC play: Clemson is seventh in the conference in total pitching while UNC ranks ninth. The Tigers have a team ERA of 5.55 and UNC stands at 6.03. The pitching staff that steps up this weekend will determine who wins the series.

First pitch for the Tigers and Heels will be at 6:30 Eastern time at Clemson’s Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Friday.

By: Brandon Rink
DFN Sports Senior Guest Writer