Clemson Baseball downs Furman Paladins 12-4

Furman made the short trip down I-85 to Doug Kingsmore this afternoon, looking to break an 18 game losing streak to the Tigers. Both teams came in 3-0, after having swept their opening series. It wasn’t meant to be for Furman however, as Clemson earned a 12-4 win, and extended its winning streak over the Paladins to 19. After another slow start by Clemson at the plate, the bats came to life over the final few innings, as the Tigers would eventually pound out 13 hits. Chris Williams led the way, going 2-4, with a career high 6 RBI, along with 2 runs scored. Robert Jolly continued his hot start, going 2-2, with 2BB and a run scored. Seth Beer went 2-3 with an RBI, a walk, and 2 runs scored and Patrick Cromwell went 3-4, with a walk, and 2 runs scored.

Clemson got on the board first in the bottom of the third. Logan Davidson struck out but reached on a passed ball. Beer, who was batting in the two hole today, then singled, putting runners at 1st and 2nd. After a Patrick Cromwell pop out, and a wild pitch that allowed Davidson to advance to third, Chris Williams got his first RBI on a sac fly to center, making it 1-0. Robert Jolly then singled to right, with Beer advancing to third. DH Drew Donathan would strike out to end the inning.

Furman was able to get that run back in the 4th off LHP Sam Weatherly. It was the much anticipated debut for the freshman, two way player. He sailed through the first 3 innings, but quickly ran into trouble in the 4th. Jabari Richards had a leadoff infield single, then scored when Jason Costa lined a double into the gap, tying the game at 1. That would be all for Weatherly as he finished with 3IP, 3H, 1ER, 1BB, and 3K. Weatherly showed flashes of why he was the #1 player from Michigan coming out of high school, mixing in an array of off speed pitches, along with a fastball reaching 90mph. Ryan Miller came on in relief and would immediately benefit from a great defensive play. CF Bryce Teodosio robbed Furman 1B Brandon Elmy of what would have been a 2R HR by getting his glove just over the wall and making the spectacular grab. It was Teodosio’s second defensive gem of the game, having already made a diving catch in the 3rd. Miller would retire the next two, to end the inning, tied at 1.

The score remained tied until the bottom of the 5th, when Clemson would score 4 times, highlighted by Chris Williams’ 3R HR. Davidson struck out, Beer singled, and Cromwell walked. Williams then hit one over right CF wall to give the Tigers a 4-1 lead. Teodosio would add an RBI single to make it 5-1.

Clemson would get 2 more in the 6th on an RBI double from Jolly and an RBI single from Donathan. They would add 5 more in the 7th, 2 on a mammoth HR to center by PH Justin Hawkins, his first career hit. Beer had a sac fly that plated a run and Chris Williams knocked in his 5th and 6th runs of the game with a double to the gap in right center. The Tigers would lead 12-1 after 7.

Furman would get 2 runs in the 8th, and 1 in the 9th, for a 12-4 final. Ryan Miller(1-0) got the win for Clemson. He finished with 3IP, 0H, 0R, 1BB, 2Ks. Mitchell Miller, Owen Griffith, and Holt Jones pitched the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings respectively for the Tigers. Griffith gave up 2ER on 2H and 2BB, while the 6 foot 7 Jones, a hard throwing lefty, gave up a run on 1H and 1BB, while striking out 2. Nik Verbeke(1-1) took the loss for Furman.

Next up for the Tigers is Dallas Baptist, as they visit DKS for weekend series beginning Friday at 4pm.