Clemson vs Southern Miss - NCAA Regional Baseball Recap

Clemson 10, Southern Miss 1

Clemson touched up Southern Mississippi ace Scott Copeland for 6 earned runs in a 10-1 blowout on the opening day of the NCAA Tournament in Auburn, Alabama. 

The Tigers jumped on the 11-0 Copeland early; using a base hit by designated hitter Will Lamb and an RBI double by second baseman Mike Freeman to grab a 1-0 lead. Two batters later, Clemson rightfielder Kyle Parker knocked Freeman in on a sacrifice fly to right field. On the throw home to the plate, Freeman eluded the catcher’s tag with an outstanding head-first slide, giving Clemson a 2-0 advantage and all the runs it would need on the day.  

Clemson righty Scott Weisman got the surprise start instead of ace lefthander Casey Harman against Southern Miss’ predominantly right-handed lineup. Weisman (7-2) did not disappoint. He went seven strong innings with 6 strikeouts, 1 earned run, and only 4 hits.  

Copeland settled down with three consecutive scoreless innings and the Golden Eagles added a run in the fifth, only for Clemson’s bats to warm up in the next two innings. Lamb hit a solo shot to right field to answer the Golden Eagles' run and Parker singled in his second run of the day to boost the Tigers’ lead to 4-1 in the fifth.  

> Check out a great selection of Clemson Tigers Apparel & Merchandise & be sure to follow the 2010 College World Series with DFN Sports Sites!

In the sixth, Clemson third baseman John Hinson crushed a leadoff home run to right field to make it 5-1. Lamb finished his 3-for-3 day with an RBI single to bolster the Tigers’ lead to 6-1. Tigers leftfielder Jeff Schaus broke the game wide open with a 2-run single with the bases loaded for a 8-1 Clemson lead. A run on a wild pitch and an RBI single by shortstop Brad Miller finished off the six-run sixth and produced a 10-1 Tigers lead. 

Clemson knocked around the Golden Eagles for 12 hits on the day. Lamb led all Tigers from the leadoff spot with 2 RBIs. Parker went 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs. Hinson slumped through the ACC Tournament, but had a 2-for-4 day on Friday with his home run in the sixth. 

Clemson plays the winner of the top-seeded Auburn Tigers and the fourth-seeded Jacksonville State Gamecocks at 7 Eastern (6 Central in Alabama) on Saturday. The Tigers will throw lefty ace Casey Harman (6-2, 4.14 ERA).

By: Brandon Rink
DFN Sports Guest Writer