Photo by Austin Silvey
CLEMSON -- After losing a tough game in North Augusta on Tuesday this past week to Georgia, the Tigers opened their weekend at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in a devastating way. They lost in astonishing fashion that only "Friday the 13th" could provide. Leading by eight runs in the top of the ninth, Miami would score eight to tie the game and would ultimately win in 12 innings, 12-11.
Over 400 pitches were thrown through 12 innings, 23 total runs scored, 29 total hits and even 17 runners left on base between the two teams.
The Canes plated two runs in the top of the first on a couple of singles to give them an early 2-0 lead over Clemson. But the Tigers didn't take long to respond.
The first three batters got on base...Meredith singled, Greene walked and Beer singled...and then it was Chris Williams turn. He took a first pitch strike but on the second pitch he sent one over the center field wall for a grand slam (picture above was the grand slam hit).
They took a 4-2 lead into the top of the second. On Jacob Hennessy's first pitch, Gonzalez sent a ball out of the park down the right field line to cut Clemson's lead to 4-3.
In the bottom of the second, Wilkie was up to bat first and was walked on four pitches. Patrick Cromwell followed him and on a 1-1 pitch, he sent another ball out of Doug Kingsmore into right field to score two more runs for the Tigers to make it 6-3 Clemson.
Ryan Miller came in for relief of Hennessy in the top of the sixth inning. Hennessy finished with 5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, and ZERO combined walks and strikeouts.
The score wouldn't change again until the bottom of the eighth. Jolly lead off the inning with a four pitch walk and Sam Hall would come in to pinch run for him. Wilkie was able to advance Hall to second on a sac bunt in the next at-bat. On a wild pitch to Cromwell, Hall moved to third.
Cromwell made sure both of them got home on the 2-0 pitch, sending his second home run of the game out of DKS to plate two more runs for the Tigers, giving them an 8-3 lead.
Clemson got the bases loaded with two outs to continue the eighth for Clemson. Jordan Greene would score another run for the Tigers on a fielding error by the Canes third baseman on a ball put into play by Logan Davidson. With the bases still loaded, Wharton would hit a single to right center scoring Beer & Williams, but would get tagged out going for second.
The Tigers drove in FIVE runs in the bottom of the eighth and took an 11-3 lead to the top of the ninth...but Miami wasn't done. The Canes would plate EIGHT runs in an impossible fashion to tie the game...doing it with only one extra-base hit. The Tigers wouldn't score any runs in the bottom half of the inning, thus sending the game to extras.
There was no scoring in the 10th or 11th inning. Miami finally opened up the scoring in extras with a one-out double to right field followed by a Zamora single to center field to drive in Lane from second...making the score 12-11 in favor of the Canes.
Clemson plated their two leadoff batters in the bottom of the 12th. Drew Donathan got an infield single and Kyle Wilkie walked on a full count. Cromwell, with two home runs for the game, would come up to the plate next but would strike out swinging.
Kier Meredith would line out into a double play to end the game and give the Canes the win, 12-11.
Clemson and Miami will play a doubleheader tomorrow due to inclement weather on Sunday. First pitch for game one will be at 1:00...second game is scheduled for 5:00.
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