Wake Forest vs Clemson Baseball Recap

Wake Forest 9, Clemson 5

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons jumped on the Clemson Tigers early and hung on for a 9-5 win to take game one of the weekend series.  

After the Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth, the Demon Deacons bats warmed up – big time. Wake Forest centerfielder Steven Brooks hit a double down the line to kick off the bottom half of the inning. Catcher Mike Murray laced a double to center field to tie up the game on the next at-bat. Another single put runners on the corners for rightfielder Mac Williamson, who proceeded to crush a home run to left center field and give the Demon Deacons a 4-1 lead. Designated hitter Carloz Lopez then hit the third double and the fifth straight hit of the inning. Later, after a walk and a sacrifice bunt, Clemson ace Casey Harman’s day was done. Tigers reliever Tomas Cruz did not fare much better with his turn against the Deacs' batting order. Cruz walked the bases loaded; walked the next batter for a run; gave up a sacrifice fly for another run; and surrendered a double for two more Wake Forest players to cross the plate for the Demon Deacons. Wake's lead ballooned to 8-1 by the end of the fourth inning.   

Wake Forest lefty Austin Stadler had the predominantly left-handed Clemson lineup off balance the entire game. Stadler struck out the first two batters of the game and nine more to finish out his 6 2/3 innings of work with 11 Ks on Friday night.

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Clemson mounted a bit of a rally in the ninth inning while down 9-2. Down to their last out in the ninth, the Tigers showed a little spunk, but not enough to make a difference. Rightfielder Kyle Parker was awarded first base after being nailed with a pitch.  Two Tiger batters, third baseman John Hinson and shortstop Brad Miller – each down to their last strike – hit back-to-back home runs (a two-run shot for Hinson) to cut the Demon Deacons' lead to 9-5. Wake Forest reliever Justin Van Grouw still had a four-run lead, though, and he struck out catcher John Nester looking for the elusive final out.  

All told, Wake Forest pounded out 10 hits for 9 runs. Williamson led the way offensively, going 2 for 4 with two home runs and 4 RBIs. Catcher Mike Murray went 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs in the comfortable win for the Deacs. 

It was a tough night for the top Tigers sluggers, with batters one through four in the lineup going 3 for 17 and four batters registering an 0-fer (Parker, leftfielder Jeff Schaus, catcher John Nester, and centerfielder Wilson Boyd). Parker led the way in strikeouts for the Tigers with three in his three official at-bats.

Clemson and Wake Forest meet again for game two of the series at 6 Eastern on Saturday.

By: Brandon Rink
DFN Sports Guest Writer