Four-Run First Leads No. 6 Clemson To 7-2 Win Over Duke

Saturday, March 17

Clemson, S.C.

4:00 PM

Duke University

Clemson

Three-Run Ninth Lifts Duke To 5-4 Come-From-Behind Victory Over UNC Greensboro

Four-Run First Leads No. 6 Clemson To 7-2 Win Over Duke

3/17/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

By: Duke Sports Information

CLEMSON, S.C. – Third baseman Marquez Smith capped off a four-run first inning with a two-run homer as No. 6 Clemson defeated Duke, 7-2, on Saturday afternoon at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The Blue Devils fall to 17-6 overall and 0-5 in the ACC while the Tigers improve to 13-4 and 2-0, respectively.

Center fielder Brad Chalk doubled to left to lead off the bottom of the first before advancing to third on a passed ball. Shortstop Taylor Harbin then lined a one-out double up the middle to score Chalk. First baseman Andy D'Alessio followed with an RBI-single through the right side, scoring Harbin. Smith then capped the inning by sending an 0-2 offering over the wall in left center for a two-run shot.

Left fielder Addison Johnson added to Clemson's lead in the bottom of the fourth, blasting the first pitch he saw over the wall in right center for a solo home run. Second baseman David Bunnell followed with a double to right center before advancing to third on a groundout. After Harbin was hit by a pitch and stole second, D'Alessio laced a two-run single to right center to score Bunnell and Harbin, giving the Tigers a 7-0 lead.

Third baseman Brett Bartles led off the top of the fifth with a monstrous home run, crushing a 2-0 pitch off the scoreboard in left center. The home run was the third of the season for Bartles and the 10th of his career.

Clemson threatened to add to their lead in the bottom of the fifth but Duke reliever Andrew Wolcott got out of a one-out bases-loaded jam to keep the score at 7-1.

Duke scored another run in the top of the sixth to make it a 7-2 ballgame. Left fielder Alexander Hassan doubled to left to begin the inning. Two batters later, right fielder Jimmy Gallagher moved Hassan to third on a groundout. Hassan then scored on a wild pitch.

Bartles led the Blue Devils at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a solo home run. First baseman Jeremy Gould was 2-for-4 with a double, designated hitter Jonathan Nicolla went 2-for-4 and Hassan finished 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored.

Clemson starter Ryan Hinson improved to 1-0 on the season, holding the Blue Devils to two runs on five hits in 6.1 innings of work. D.J. Mitchell came on in relief and threw 2.2 scoreless innings for the Tigers.

Duke starter Michael Ness (3-1) suffered his first loss of the year after allowing six runs on eight hits in 3.2 innings pitched. Wolcott held Clemson to just one run on four hits in 4.1 innings of relief for the Blue Devils. He also registered three strikeouts in the game.

Duke and Clemson will wrap up their three-game series tomorrow at 1 p.m. The Blue Devils will return home next weekend to host Georgia Tech at Jack Coombs Field.

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