Presbyterian College took advantage of four costly Tiger errors and eight timely hits to defeat Clemson 8-4 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Wednesday night. The Blue Hose improved to 10-17, while Clemson fell to 12-12.
The Presbyterian College win was its first in four tries at Doug Kingsmore Stadium and its first win at Clemson since 1949. The Tigers had won the previous four meetings in Tigertown.
Presbyterian College maintained a 1-0 lead until the sixth inning, when it scored four runs on three hits and two Clemson errors. Two more Tiger errors led to another run in the seventh inning. Richie Shaffer crushed a two-run homer in the eighth inning to cut the Blue Hose lead to three runs, but it was not enough.
A night after totaling 16 hits, Clemson was limited to only six hits by three Blue Hose pitchers. Senior righthander Gabe Grammer (1-1), Presbyterian College’s closer during its first 26 games of the season and leadoff batter on Wednesday, pitched 6.0 strong innings in his first start of the year. He gave up just two hits, one run, and one walk with three strikeouts to earn the victory.
Michael Ricchi recorded his first career save by pitching the final 1.2 innings with three strikeouts.
Tiger starter Jonathan Meyer (1-2) suffered the loss despite allowing just two hits, one run, and no walks with two strikeouts in 4.0 innings pitched. Five of the eight runs yielded by Clemson’s four pitchers were unearned.
Tony Micklon gave Presbyterian College the game’s first lead in the second inning when he belted a two-out, solo homer to left field, his third long ball of the season. It was also the first home run surrendered by Meyer in 2012.
