We needed another sweep and I think you have to feel good about taking 2 on the road against Tech, but we should've won all 3 games here. We just got no hitting in the finale. The pitching was dominant; better than I expected them to be against a good-hitting squad on the road.
Clemson won the series, but dropped to 36-16 overall today, 15-12 in ACC play. FSU, like last year, will need to win one game to win the Atlantic. The team leading the ACC in fat pitchers could not do the job last season.
With Friday's game rained out, Clemson and VT went to a doubleheader Saturday afternoon. In game 1, Will Lamb gave us a lead on a fielder's choice. In the 2nd, Epps led off with a 7-pitch walk (it would be either that or a K remember, this is Epps) and Kieboom connected on a hit-n-run moving him to 3rd. Hinson plated Epps on a Sac Fly and Kieboom scored on a Passed Ball to make it 3-0. That was enough for Dominic Leone. In 6.0 innings pitched, he allowed six hits, two runs, and two walks with seven strikeouts. Leone is now 5-1 on the season.
After Epps plated Lamb in the 9th for the 7th run in the 7-2 win, a 2.5 hour lightning delay stopped the game. Weismann came in after that to finish the game.
Lamb extended his hitting streak to 25 games, 5th-longest in Clemson history, but it ended with an 0-for-4 effort in game 2. Pohl and Lamb both went 3-for-5 to lead Clemson's 14-hit attack and Schaus went 2-for-2 with 2 RBI.
Game 2: After starter Justin Sarratt struck out the first five Hokies to start the game, Matt Blow lined a two-out, solo homer down the right-field line in the second inning, his third long ball of the season. It was also only the second home run allowed by Sarratt in 2011 and snapped his streak of 27.2 innings pitched without allowing an earned run.
Mike Dunster singled in the 3rd and scored on a HR from John Hinson to give us the lead, but VT responded again in the next inning. Schaus scored in the 4th on an Epps single to make it 3-2 Clemson. It was scoreless until the 7th when VT plated a tying run off JoMo.
In the 8th, Dunster walked and Hinson singled, before Brad Miller smacked one over the RF wall to make it 6-3. Clemson scored 2 more in the 9th to finish it 8-3.
Justin Sarratt went 6 1/3, allowing 6 hits and the 3 runs were charged to him (one off JoMo). He struck out 8 in the ND. Clemson is 10-0 in his starts this year.
Hinson paced the Tigers' 13-hit attack by going 4-for-5 with a homer, two RBIs, and two runs. Miller went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer and hit-by-pitch, while Epps went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a stolen base.
Game 3 on Sunday was disappointing offensively. Clemson stranded nine runners and went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position, stranding 9 of 14 total, and dropping a 3-2 decision to the Hokies. The Hokies took the lead for good with a run in the fifth inning, then Clemson put the potential tying run on third base with one out in the ninth inning. But Manny Martir retired the next two Tigers to send Clemson to its eight loss in nine one-run games in 2011.
Tech's Joe Parsons got the win despite allowing 5 hits and 6 walks in 6 2/3 IP. Jon Meyer pitched better but ended up with the L. Jack actually let him pitch a complete game. He allowed 8 hits and no walks with 6 Ks. He threw just 96 pitches.
Shaffer went hitless in the entire series. Kieboom went 2-for-2 with a run and walk to lead the Tigers.
Clemson has the Tiger Field reg. season finale against Davidson on Tuesday.