Courtesy: NC State Jake Buchanan pitched well after a rough first inning, but Clemson defeated the Wolfpack 5-4.
RALEIGH, N.C. – For the third time in as many games, Clemson erupted for a big first inning, then held on the hand the Wolfpack a 5-4 defeat Saturday at Doak Field at Dail Park in the final game of the 2009 college baseball season for NC State.
The Tigers, who scored six first-inning runs on Thursday and five more on Friday, got this game kick-started with a four spot in the top of the first off Wolfpack starter Jake Buchanan. ChrisEpps led off and hit the game’s first pitch over the left-field wall and just like that, the Tigers led 1-0. Mike Freeman was up next and walked. Jeff Schaus flied out to right field, but Ben Paulsen reached on an infield single, and with two down Wilson Boyd drilled a two-run double into the gap in left-center, then scored on John Nester’s single to left.
Drew Poulk got NC State on the board with a two-out solo home run in the bottom of the first, and the Wolfpack cut the lead to a run at 4-3 in the bottom of the fourth. Poulk led off and walked, and Andrew Ciencin singled to left. Harold Riggins walked to load the bases. Cameron Conner drove in one run and advanced the other two to second and third with a sacrifice fly to deep left-center field. Clinton McKinney came in to relieve for Clemson and immediately picked Riggins off second, only shortstop Brad Miller was unable to coral the throw, which went into center field. Ciencin scored on the play to cut the lead to 4-3.
McKinney got the win and improved to 4-0 after pitching 1 2/3 scoreless innings. He retired all five men he faced, striking out one. Clemson’s bullpen worked 5 1/3 innings and allowed just one run on four hits, walking three and striking out five.
After the tough first inning, Buchanan settled in and cruised through the Clemson lineup, retiring 12 of 13 at one point, and erasing the one batter who reached on a double play. Nester finally broke Buchanan’s spell, leading off the top of the seventh with a double to right-center. He went to third on a groundout by Miller, then scored on Jason Stolz’s single up the middle, pushing Clemson’s lead to 5-3.
Buchanan (2-6) pitched 6 1/3 innings and was charged with five runs on nine hits. He walked one and struck out three.
The Pack scored its final run in the bottom of the seventh. Chris Schaeffer drew a two-out walk, went to third on Dallas Poulk’s single to right-center, and scored on a wild pitch from reliever Scott Weismann.
Clemson, which improved to 39-27 overall and 19-11 in the ACC, moves on to play in the ACC Baseball Championship, which begins Wednesday at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. NC State fell to 25-31 with the loss, 10-20 in the conference. The game ended the season for the Wolfpack.
Courtesy: NC State
