Clemson Uses Longball to Take Game One vs. BC

Friday, March 18

Clemson, S.C.

6:30 PM

Boston College

12-4, 2-2

Clemson

14-3, 3-1

Boston College

Clemson

Photo by: Jim Pierce

Clemson Uses Longball to Take Game One vs. BC

March 18, 2016 | Baseball

Box Score

Hernandez and Sauter homer for Eagles

GAME INFORMATION
Score: No. 19 Clemson 6, Boston College 2
Records: Boston College (12-4, 2-2 ACC) at Clemson (14-3, 3-1 ACC)
Series Record: Clemson leads the series, 1-0
Location: Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, S.C.

BC HIGHLIGHTS

Seniors Stephen Sauter and Gabriel Hernandez scored the only two BC runs, both launching solo home runs in the third inning. It was the first of the season for Sauter – third of his career – and the second for Hernandez – fourth of his career.
Freshman Thomas Lane pitched two innings of scoreless relief, allowed just one hit, one walk and struck out two.

KEY PLAYS

After Clemson took a 2-0 lead in the second but the Eagles countered with two in the third to tie it up, but the Tigers knocked two more two-run home runs for the 6-2 lead.
Tigers starter right-hander Clate Schmidt kept BC at bay, going seven innings, allowing six hits, two runs – both earned – two walks and striking out a career-high 11 strikeouts.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Clemson was the first to score, notching two in the second with two outs. Junior right-handed starter Mike King started the inning by hitting Seth Beer, but came back get the first out looking. He surrendered a single to Robert Jolly to put two on before recording another K. Andrew Cox singled to center to score Beer and Adam Renwick followed with a base hit to right to score Jolly before King got a fly to center to get out of the inning.
The Eagles tied the game in the follow inning on solo shots by Sauter and Hernandez.
The Tigers regained the lead in the bottom of the third off Beer's bat as he homered with one on and one out after King gave up a single to Chris Okey. The righty settled in and forced two groundouts to end the inning.
BC threatened in the fourth, loading the bases on one out. Junior Nick Sciortino and Sauter drew walks and sophomore Mitch Bigras singled, but Schmidt struck out the next two batters to get out of the jam.
Clemson increased its lead to 6-2 in the fifth on another home run as Beer notched a one-out double and Weston Wilson knocked one over the left-field wall. Sophomore Jake Palomaki caught two liners at second to close out the inning.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Sauter led off the second with a home run to right. The last player to hit a lead-off home run was Chris Shaw at Wake Forest on April 5, 2015.
King went five innings – his shorting outing of the season – allowed eight hits, six runs – all earned – and struck out three in his first loss of the season. He did not allow a walk for the third time this season and the home runs were the first allowed by King in 2016.
The Eagles struck out a season-high 13 times.

UP NEXT
The Eagles and Tigers return on Saturday, March 19 for a 4 p.m. start time. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.