No. 6 Clemson Outlasts Duke, 9-6

Sunday, March 18

Clemson, S.C.

1:00 PM

Duke University

Clemson

No. 6 Clemson Outlasts Duke, 9-6

3/18/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

By: Duke Sports Information

CLEMSON, S.C. – The sixth-ranked Clemson Tigers battled back from an early 4-0 deficit and held on for a 9-6 win over the Duke Blue Devils on Sunday afternoon at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The Blue Devils fall to 17-7 overall and 0-6 in the ACC while the Tigers improve to 14-4 and 3-0, respectively.

Duke jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first. Left fielder Alexander Hassan singled to right to start the game. Center fielder Jonathan Anderson then drew a walk before being forced out at second on a fielder's choice. Two batters later, third baseman Brett Bartles launched a 1-2 pitch over the wall in right center for a three-run homer. It was the fourth home run in the last five games for Bartles and the 11th of his career. He also homered in yesterday's game against Clemson. Following the home run, designated hitter Jonathan Nicolla drew a two-out walk before scoring from first on an RBI-double to right center by catcher Matt Williams.

Clemson responded with a four-run first of their own to tie the game. Center fielder Brad Chalk drew a leadoff walk before advancing to third on a Duke error. Third baseman Marquez Smith followed with an RBI-single to left to score Chalk. After first baseman Andy D'Alessio drew a walk to load the bases, catcher Doug Hogan lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to score right fielder Wilson Boyd. Designated hitter Ben Paulsen drew another walk to load the bases and two batters later, shortstop J.D. Burgess lined a two-run single to left to score Smith and D'Alessio.

The Blue Devils added a pair of runs in the top of the third to take a 6-4 lead. After right fielder Jimmy Gallagher drew a leadoff walk, first baseman Nate Freiman lined a double down the left field line to give Duke two runners in scoring position. Gallagher then scored and Freiman moved to third on a passed ball. Two batters later, Nicolla brought Freiman home with an RBI-grounder to short.

The Tigers answered with a three-run third to take a 7-6 lead. Following a one-out single by Hogan, Paulsen singled through the right side to give Clemson runners on the corners. Left fielder Addison Johnson then singled up the middle to score Hogan and move Paulsen to third. Burgess followed with a sacrifice fly to left to score Paulsen. Second baseman David Bunnell then capped the frame with an RBI-single to left, scoring Johnson.

Boyd added a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth to extend Clemson's lead to 9-6.

Clemson reliever Matt Vaughn improved to 1-0 on the season, holding the Blue Devils to two hits in four scoreless innings. Daniel Moskos worked a scoreless ninth to earn his fifth save of the year.

Duke starter Jonathan Foreman (1-1) suffered his first loss of the year, allowing seven runs on six hits in 2.1 innings pitched. Three of the seven runs scored on Foreman were unearned. Sophomore Kyle Butler added 1.1 scoreless innings for the Blue Devils and Anderson pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth.

Duke will return home next weekend to host Georgia Tech at Jack Coombs Field. Friday's game is schedule for 3 p.m., Saturday's game will be at 2 p.m. and Sunday's series finale is set for 1 p.m.