Clemson watched this game slip away early and couldn't recover in a 5-1 loss to Louisville on Sunday. Louisville took the lead on a fielder's choice in the second inning and that lead wouldn't be challenged at all.
For the Tigers, it would have been a great accomplishment to sweep the Cardinals, but it wasn't the ultimate goal. Coming away with an ACC series win, on the road, in a city where your baseball team has never won a single game, after being swept at home one week ago, AND losing your first midweek game of the season, that is a huge win for the Tigers going forward into the ladder half of the season.
In the second inning, Louisville got their offense started when Jake Higginbotham induced Justin Lavey to hit into a fielder's choice, but one run scored.
Nick Bennett led the Louisville to victory on the pitcher's mound. He went five innings, allowing zero runs on two hits, striking out seven and walking one. Reid Detmers, Bobby Miller, and Sam Bordner all put in work on the pitcher's mound in relief out of the bullpen, steering their team towards the victory.
Higginbotham took the loss for Clemson. He went four and two-thirds innings, allowing four runs on nine hits, striking out one and walking zero.
Drew Wharton, Jordan Greene, Seth Beer, and Bryce Teodosio each collected one hit to lead Clemson. Clemson was sure-handed and didn't commit a single error. Greene made the most plays with eight.
Louisville totaled 14 hits. Lavey, Pat Rumoro, Logan Wyatt, and Tyler Fitzgerald all managed multiple hits for Louisville. Lavey led Louisville with three hits in four at bats. Louisville didn't commit a single error in the field. Rumoro had the most chances in the field with 11.
After the doubleheader, game two loss, Clemson is now 18-6 on the year and 5-4 in ACC play. This was a huge series for the Tigers and for them to get two wins like they did will be big for momentum and confidence going forward.
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