Clemson Sweeps Boston College to Open ACC Play

Game 1: Clemson 4 Boston College 3

Trailing 3-1 to the Eagles, Adam Hackenberg got things moving in the sixth by singling to right field to score Bryar Hawkins. James Parker then scored the tying run on a Chad Fairey flyout. Clemson got a solid outing from Sam Weatherly who gave up three runs on three hits on 5.2 innings, and an outstanding finish from the bullpen, as Geoffrey Gilbery and Carson Spiers combined to give up just one more hit on the day. Once again, Hackenberg provided the big hit by singling and scoring Parker in the eighth to put Clemson up 4-3, which is all the Tigers would need to get their first ACC win of the season.

Game 2: Clemson 12 BC 5

As early season concerns have mostly centered on Clemson’s lack of scoring, Saturday’s win was a sight for sore eyes for Tigers’ fans. Clemson racked up twelve runs on fourteen hits in route to the 12-5 win. Bryar Hawkins got it rolling with a two run shot in the first. Chad Fairey tacked another homer on the board leading off the second by going yard. Clemson’s pitching was not as great and the Tigers surrendered 12 runs to the Eagles. Starter Davis Sharpe went four innings, giving up four runs on six hits. Carter Raffield earned the win for the Tigers, giving up one run on four hits in 2.2 innings of work. It is Raffield’s first win of the year.

Clemson 7 BC 6

Sunday saw beautiful weather at Doug Kingsmore stadium as Clemson took the field in the white “sweep” hats looking for ACC win number three. BC took a 6-4 lead to the seventh and Clemson slowly but surely chipped away at the deficit. After advancing to third on a wild pitch, James Parker once again scored on an Adam Hackenberg single to bring the game to 6-5. Boston College looked to make some noise in the eighth, but Elijah Henderson’s outstanding defense put a stop to that.

Dylan Brewer then tied the game up at 6-6 in the bottom half of the inning, scoring off of a Bryar Hawkins flyout, setting up an epic ninth.

Boston College stranded a pair on the basepaths in the top of the ninth. Davis Sharpe worked a four pitch walk to start the ninth, and Sam Hall stole second, just barely getting past the tag of the BC second baseman. Chad Fairey then placed a beautiful sacrifice bunt down third base line to put Hall at third with one out. James Parker followed it up with a chopper that went passed the pitcher to short. The throw wasn’t in time but BC catcher Peter Burns could not hang on to it anyway, and Sam Hall scored the winning run, putting Clemson to 3-0 in the ACC.

The Tigers are back in action this week with a pair of midweek games against instate foes at Doug Kingsmore. Clemson hosts Presbyterian Tuesday at 6:00 and Winthrop Wednesday at 6:00. Clemson will then hit the road for just the second time this year with a three game weekend series in Winston-Salem against Wake Forest.