CLEMSON, SC --- After two straight losses for the first time this season, Monte Lee and the Clemson Tigers looked to finish out their second ACC series on a winning note over NC State.
Although it was a back and forth battle for most of the game, NC State prevailed to sweep the weekend series, 5-4.
The party would start early for both teams on Sunday. In the top of the 1st, NC State’s Will Wilson smacked a two-out solo home run, clearing the Chapman Grandstands in left field. It wouldn’t take long for Clemson to answer the early deficit.
On the first pitch that Clemson leadoff batter Logan Davidson saw, he hit a straight shot that traveled 407 feet to the centerfield wall to tie up the game at 1-1.
In the second, Grayson Byrd stepped to the plate with Drew Wharton sitting on first and no outs on the board. Byrd, already off to a hot start in ACC play, doubled down the right field line and third base coach Greg Starbuck gave Wharton the signal to head home. Byrd would reach third on the throw home.
With Byrd on 3rd and no outs, Kyle Wilkie extended Clemson’s lead with a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Byrd. After two innings, the Tigers led 3-1.
Just as Clemson answered in the first, NC State did just the same in the third. With a runner on second, Josh McLain tied up the game at 3-3, with a two-run home run to left field.
For the second time of the day, Monte Lee’s Tigers would reclaim their lead in the fourth, courtesy of Kyle Wilkie. Grayson Byrd reached first base on an error in the infield with two outs. Wilkie split the outfielders in the right field gap with a stand-up double that scored Byrd.
Clemson kept the 4-3 lead until the 6th inning.
NC State posed a very dangerous situation for Tiger fans with the bases-loaded and no outs. Clemson pitcher Ryan Miller stepped into the situation out of the bullpen however, and did not allow too much damage to occur. Brad Debo grounded out to a double play, but Will Wilson was able to score and tie the ballgame.
It would be later in the eighth inning that NC State would take the final step.
Just as he did in the first inning, Will Wilson sent his second home run of the day into the outfield seats. Wilson, who scored 3 of NC State’s 5 runs, would be the final piece to the series sweeping puzzle for NC State.
With the loss, Clemson falls to 16-4 overall and 3-3 in ACC play.
The Tigers will travel down to Conway, South Carolina to take on Coastal Carolina on Tuesday night at 6 pm.