NCAA College World Series - Game 8 Recap - Clemson vs Oklahoma

Clemson 6, Oklahoma 4 - Clemson gets Thursday bye; Oklahoma relegated to elimination round

Clemson is one win away from the NCAA Baseball National Championship Series.

In a game spread over two days due to rain, Clemson righty Alex Frederick limited the Oklahoma Sooners' damage to a run in the ninth inning for the save to hold on to a 6-4 Tigers victory. The two-run triumph enables Clemson to advance in the winner’s bracket at the College World Series.

The Tigers moved to 2-0 in the CWS and have two chances to move on to the CWS championship round.

Looking for a turning point in Clemson’s undefeated run at the College World Series? Turn to the fourth inning of this contest, which began on Tuesday but finished up on Wednesday afternoon.

After an infield hit by OU rightfielder Cody Reine on Tuesday night, Reine tried to steal second, only to be gunned-down by Clemson catcher Spencer Kieboom. However, Tiger shortstop Brad Miller dropped the sure out on impact with Reine at least two feet from the bag. The Sooners knocked through a run-scoring single to score first in the contest, but CU starter Scott Weismann recovered to get out of the fourth. 

In Clemson’s half of the inning, the Tigers responded like they have throughout the entire NCAA Tournament. They stayed patient.

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Oklahoma starter Bobby Shore threw a four-pitch walk to Tigers leftfielder Jeff Schaus to start the inning. Four more balls put Clemson rightfielder Kyle Parker on base as well. In attempting to redeem his mistake from the top of the fourth, Miller watched four balls hit the catcher’s glove out of the strike zone to load the bases with no outs. After watching Shore’s 14th straight errant throw and finally a strike for his 15th, Clemson third baseman John Hinson knocked through an RBI single up the middle to tie the game at 1 and end Shore’s day on the mound. Clemson first baseman Richie Shaffer remained unfazed by the pitching change with a shot to right field for a run-scoring sacrifice fly and the Tigers first and only lead they would need. Catcher Spencer Kieboom topped off the rally next with a two-run single to give the Tigers a 4-1 lead through four innings.  

In the fifth inning, Clemson used some two-out luck to add insurance runs.

Parker smashed an OU delivery to the very top of the wall in deep center at Rosenblatt Stadium that resulted in a triple. Miller then hit a high pop-up to left field, where Oklahoma leftfielder Max White lost the ball in the lights as it dropped several feet away. The misplay allowed Clemson’s fifth run to score and Miller to reach second base. Once again, Hinson became a hero with another RBI single to give Clemson the commanding 6-1 lead before the lightning delay that suspended play on Tuesday night. Frederick came out of the bullpen to seal the deal on Wednesday afternoon in Omaha. 

Weismann’s five strong inning anchored the Clemson cause on Tuesday; Weismann earned the win with one earned run, four strikeouts, and only three hits allowed.

Clemson will play the winner of the Oklahoma-South Carolina elimination game at 7 Eastern on Friday.

By: Brandon Rink
DFN Sports Guest Writer