CLEMSON, S.C. – It took a two-run walk-off double in the
bottom of the ninth inning for No. 14 Clemson to top the Tennessee
Tech baseball team 5-4 Friday night to win in the opening round of
the NCAA Regional tournament, in a game Tech led from the very
start.
The Tigers led off the decisive ninth inning with a single from
Addison Johnson, who was making his first at-bat of the game as a
pinch hitter. Chris Epps followed that with a single of his own to
put runners on first and second with nobody out. Lee Henry struck
out Mike Freeman, before Clemson’s Jeff Schaus pulled through
with the walk-off double that hugged the first-base line and made
it all the way through to the right field fence.
Schaus went 2-for-5 in the game, hitting a solo home run in
addition to his game-ending hit, finishing with three RBIs.
The Tigers’ leadoff batter reached base in the final seven
innings of the game.
“There’s no question, against a great team like Clemson
that is going to catch up with you,” head coach Matt Bragga
said. “We played with fire, absolutely. A great team is
finally going to take advantage of that.”
Alex Henry went 3-for-4 in the contest, and scored twice, while
Chad Oberacker and Tate McMillan each went 2-for-3.
Tech got an early 1-0 lead with the help of back-to-back singles
from Alex Henry and Oberacker to lead off the game, followed by a
ground ball from A.J. Kirby-Jones. The Golden Eagles went up 2-0 in
the top of the third inning when Heath Cheverton, Henry and
Oberacker each singled in succession to start the inning.
Clemson got on the board in the bottom the fourth, cutting the lead
in half with a single, a walk, a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly
in the inning, but the Golden Eagles pulled ahead 4-1 in the top of
the fifth when back-to-back wild pitches allowed Alex Henry to
score, after he reached on a single. Oberacker would score on an
error on the very next play. But the Tigers wouldn’t go away,
and cut the deficit to 4-3 in the bottom of the frame. That’s
how the score stayed until the bottom of the ninth inning.
“I have to say it was a difficult game to lose,” Bragga
said. “I felt like we had a chance to win it late, and
didn’t. I think Clemson had a leadoff man on maybe six or
seven inning out of the nine, and it is tough to win ballgames when
that happens. I tip my hat to them, they did a great job. I’m
proud of our guys and disappointed that we lost because we expect
to win.”
Senior pitcher Ryan Dennick got the start for Tech, and pitched
seven innings, allowing just five hits and three runs. Dennick
struck out five batters and walked four, and was not the pitcher of
record.
“I knew Clemson is going to be a great hitting team from the
ACC,” Dennick said. “I got to mix my pitches really
well, I can’t just keep feeding them fastballs because they
are going to drive them all over the ballpark. I had to change it
up and let my defense work, and that worked for most of the
ballgame.”
“Ryan Dennick has come on strong for us late (in the
season),” Bragga said. “He was a competitive type close
for us, and late in the year we made an adjustment and this is his
fifth start. He is phenomenal, and is going to get a chance at the
next level, as he should. We have been blessed to have this young
man in our program.”
Lee Henry took the loss for the Golden Eagles. He came in to pitch
at the start of the eighth inning, and got three of his four outs
by way of the strikeout. Henry walked two, and gave up two
runs.
“This was a typical tournament game,” Clemson head
coach Jack Leggett said. “Tennessee Tech did an outstanding
job; they pitched well and kept us off balance. We couldn’t
find a good hit, and had a rough eighth inning. We had a rough four
innings. Tennessee Tech is well-coached and they played hard, and
fortunately we came up with a big hit at the end.”
The Golden Eagles will face Alabama at 2 p.m. CDT Saturday in an
elimination game. Alabama lost to Oklahoma State 10-6 earlier in
the day.
June 27, 2009
Dennick makes professional debut with Burlington Royals
May 25, 2009
Goin' to Carolina... for Clemson Regional
April 22, 2009
Golden Eagles rally comes up short, Tech falls 9-7
April 15, 2009
Hayes two-hitter too much for Scots to handle
April 15, 2009
Golden Eagles rally late, but fall at East Tennessee
April 12, 2009
Golden Eagles complete sweep over EKU in crucial OVC series
April 11, 2009
Golden Eagles drop 10 on EKU in game one win
April 2, 2009
Donaldson reaches single-game hit mark in Tech win
March 31, 2009
Golen Eagles host ETSU, hit the road for three OVC contests
March 30, 2009
Tech drops a pair at defending OVC champ EIU
March 24, 2009
Tech on the road for four of five games this week
March 22, 2009
Golden Eagles swept by SEMO to open OVC play
March 21, 2009
SEMO takes OVC-opening doubleheader from Tech
March 18, 2009
Kirby-Jones' four RBIs not enough to top Volunteers
March 13, 2009
Golden Eagles split double header with Valparaiso
March 11, 2009
Tech erases five run deficit, tops Belmont 8-6
March 8, 2009
Rockets prevent sweep, top Golden Eagles 11-7 in finale
March 7, 2009
Golden Eagles take two in double-header against Toledo
March 6, 2009
Golden Eagles score late to grab 4-2 win over Toledo
March 5, 2009
Daniel Northern named to NABC all-district second-team
March 2, 2009
Tech's Adam Liberatore named OVC Tri-Pitcher of the Week
February 27, 2009
Liberatore keeps Thundering Herd off the scoreborad, Tech wins 1-0
February 27, 2009
Tech hoops team wrap up regular season with pair at Jacksonville State
February 26, 2009
Golden Eagles can't catch up to Blue Raiders
February 24, 2009
Tech visits Middle Tennessee before heading to The Citadel Tournament
February 21, 2009
Tech splits twinbill with St. Peters; Win 12-6 but fall in nightcap, 5-2
February 21, 2009
Ball State narrowly tops Tech in ESPNU Bracket Buster game, 59-55
February 20, 2009
Baseball season begins today with four-game series against St. Peters
February 19, 2009
Tech storms back, but Tennessee State escapes with 77-74 OVC win
February 17, 2009
Seniors look to go out with win over Tennessee State
February 16, 2009
Baseball team opens this weekend, building on record-setting 2008
February 16, 2009
Tech's Kevin Murphy honored as OVC Freshman of the Week
February 13, 2009
UT Martin stops Tech 71-62 despite big games from Murphy, Northern
February 13, 2009
Road trip takes Tech hoops teams to Martin for Saturday doubleheader
February 12, 2009
Murray State uses second half surge to down Golden Eagles, 73-52
February 11, 2009
Golden Eagle basketball teams face tough chores in Kentucky
February 8, 2009
Golden Eagles take on perennial power Austin Peay Governors
February 8, 2009
Golden Eagles hang close but fall to league-leading Morehead State
February 6, 2009
Golden Eagle baseball schedule features 31 home games in '09
February 6, 2009
Suttons squad looking to knock off league leaders
February 5, 2009
Tech junior Frank Davis named to Academic All-District team
February 5, 2009
Eastern Kentucky holds on to secure 80-73 OVC victory
February 3, 2009
Golden Eagle Bracket Buster: Tech to play at Ball State Feb. 21
January 31, 2009
Northern leads Tech in 91-75 road romp at SEMO
January 29, 2009
Golden Eagles off target, lose 75-58 at Eastern Illinois
January 24, 2009
Tech shoots well, downs TSU 86-78 as Alex Davis drains 21
January 17, 2009
Tech nabs 61-55 OVC win over Racers in final two minutes
January 16, 2009
Hottest Tech hoops rivalry adds another chapter against Racers
January 15, 2009
UT Martin Skyhawks rally in second half for 83-72 OVC win at Tech
January 13, 2009
National TV audience looks on as Golden Eagles host UTM
December 9, 2008
Golden Eagle baseball nabs nine standouts in early signing period
October 14, 2008
Maberry one of five in Hall of Fame Class of 2008
September 24, 2008
Tech baseball team to host final Fall Camp Saturday
August 15, 2008
Benjamin, Redhawks rolling along in Pacific Coast League