The Clemson Tigers took control of their regional with a 12-7 win on Saturday night at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The Tigers need just one win to advance to the Super Regionals, while CCU will need three wins starting with the UConn Huskies on Sunday afternoon at 3pm. The Tigers roared out of the gate and nearly put together a big 1st inning. John Hinson singled, Phil Pohl doubled and then Brad Miller nearly hit it out of the park, but had to settle for a sacrifice fly. Clemson had two sacrifice flies to take a 2-0 lead. Coastal answered in the bottom of the first with a two run bomb by Tommy LaStella to the deepest part of the park. LaStella added a double and single in the contest. The Big South Player of the Year now has three HR's in the regional.
Clemson would build a 6-2 lead in the third, but Coastal would not go away as they scratched together a pair of runs on a LaStella ground rule double and an error to make it a 6-4 game. Will Lamb's solo HR gave the Tigers a three run lead in the 5th, but CCU would stay within two thanks to a Daniel Bowman RBI single in the bottom of the frame. Clemson was finally able to shake off CCU with a four run eighth highlighted by a John Hinson towering homer to right.
WPDE Sports Director Rich Chrampanis offers his perspective from the Clemson Regional
Coastal had their chances, but there were three key defensive plays that made a diference. When CCU got within 6-4, Clemson catcher Spencer Kieboom caught a bunt and fired to first for a double play. Reliever David Haselden got out of a jam with a 5-3 double play to end another Chants threat and Jeff Schaus nailed Dan Bowman when he hit it off the top of the wall. It's plays like this that made the difference in my eyes. Coastal used a lot of arms including Big South pitcher Matt Rein. Josh Conway will start the Sunday game at 3pm against UConn.
The Saturday night game is the most important in the regional as the winner gets the huge advantage. Clemson has two chances to win one game. CCU has to win two times on Sunday and then a third game on Monday night. But Chants fans should remember that CCU did just that last year by beating Stony Brook and the College of Charleston in 2010 on Sunday followed by another win over C of C to get to the Super Regionals
