CLEMSON BASEBALL

Wilkerson's 4-hit day helps Tigers erase 6-0 deficit, beat Maine

Wilkerson's 4-hit day helps Tigers erase 6-0 deficit, beat Maine


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CLEMSON - The #16 Clemson Tigers rallied from a 6-0 deficit to defeat Maine 9-6 in front of 3,989 fans at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Tigers, who won the series 2-1, improved to 4-2 on the season. Maine fell to 2-1 in 2012. It was Clemson's ninth regular-season series win in a row dating back to 2011, its longest streak since it won 10 regular-season series in a row from 2006 to 2007.

Maine took advantage of several Clemson errors to build a 6-0 lead during the fourth inning. But the Tigers scored two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings, then they erupted for five runs in the sixth inning, all with two outs. Steve WilkersonSteve Wilkerson
So.
#17 6-1, 185
Roswell, GA

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's two-run double tied the score, then Phil PohlPhil Pohl
Sr. Catcher
#9 5-11, 215
Cooperstown, NY

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gave Clemson the lead for good with another two-run double. Clemson was 7-for-15 with two outs and had seven two-out RBIs in the contest.

Clemson's six-run deficit overcome to gain victory was its largest comeback win since the second game of a doubleheader at Wake Forest on March 9, 2008. That day, the Tigers rallied from an 11-4 deficit to edge the Demon Deacons 12-11 thanks in large part to Kyle ParkerKyle Parker
Outfielder
#11 6-1, 200
Jacksonville, FL

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's three home runs. It was the second day in a row Clemson overcame a deficit to gain victory, as the Tigers trailed 4-0 on Saturday before topping Maine 9-5.

Kevin PohleKevin Pohle
So. RH Pitcher
#21 6-3, 180
St. Louis, MO

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(2-0), the second of four Tiger pitchers, earned the win by tossing 3.0 solid innings. He allowed four hits, three runs (all unearned), and no walks with four strikeouts. Scott FirthScott Firth
Jr. RH Pitcher
#20 6-0, 165
Buffalo Grove, IL

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pitched 2.0 scoreless innings with four strikeouts, then freshman Daniel GossettDaniel Gossett
Fr. RH Pitcher
#23 6-0, 160
Lyman, SC

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pitched a hitless and scoreless ninth inning to record his first career save. Five of the six runs allowed by Tiger pitchers were unearned due to Clemson's five errors.

Mike Connolly (0-1) suffered the loss in relief, as he yielded five hits and five runs in 0.2 innings pitched.

The Black Bears used several two-strike hits to take the game's first lead in the second inning. Alex Calbick led off with a single to left field on a 1-2 pitch and advanced to second on Justin Leisenheimer's groundout to first. Fran Whitten grounded a single through the right side on a 1-2 pitch to move Calbick to third, then Calbick scored on a wild pitch.

In the third inning, two costly Tiger errors led to two Maine runs. Leadoff batter Scott Heath reached on an error. Two batters later, Ian Leisenheimer reached on another error by the Tiger infield. Calbick followed with a double down the right-field line to score Heath. Two batters later, Whitten grounded a two-out single through the left side to score Leisenheimer, but left-fielder Dominic AttanasioDominic Attanasio
So. Outfielder
#1 5-7, 160
Windermere, FL

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threw out Calbick at the plate for the inning-ending out.

Another costly Clemson miscue allowed the Black Bears to double their lead in the top of the fourth inning. Colin Gay reached on an infield single with two outs and Heath singled through the right side. Michael Fransoso hit a flyball to right-center, but centerfielder Thomas BrittleThomas Brittle
RS Jr. Outfielder
#4 5-8, 170
Cross, SC

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dropped the ball, allowing Gay and Heath to score. Ian Leisenheimer followed with a double to left field to plate Fransoso, giving Maine a 6-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Wilkerson led off with a bunt single and Pohl lofted a single to left-center on an 0-2 pitch. Two batters later, Spencer KieboomSpencer Kieboom
Jr. Catcher
#22 6-0, 220
Marietta, GA

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ripped a double over the third-base bag to score Wilkerson. Brad FelderBrad Felder
Gr. Outfielder
#3 6-0, 200
Bowman, SC

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then hit a sacrifice fly to shallow center to score Pohl in a close play at the plate. Jon McGibbonJon McGibbon
So.
#12 6-1, 210
Lindenhurst, NY

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and Jason StolzJason Stolz
Sr. Infielder
#2 6-2, 205
Marietta, GA

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drew two-out walks to load the bases, but Attanasio grounded out to second to end the frame.

Richie ShafferRichie Shaffer
Jr.
#8 6-3, 205
Charlotte, NC

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cut Maine's lead to 6-4 in the fifth inning when he lined a two-out, two-run homer to left field, his second long ball of the year. Wilkerson, who hit a one-out single to left-center earlier in the frame, also scored on the home run.

In the sixth inning, three two-out hits led five Tiger runs to give Clemson the lead. McGibbon drew a one-out walk and Stolz lined a single to left field. Attanasio's infield single to second loaded the bases, then Brittle fouled out for out #2. But Wilkerson came through with a double to left-center to score McGibbon and Stolz to tie the score. Pohl then belted a double to left-center to score Attanasio and Wilkerson. Shaffer added another run when he singled over the third-base bag to score Pohl. Shaffer would have had a stand-up double, but he pulled up while rounding first base and left the game with a mild hip flexor strain.

In the ninth inning, Whitten reached on a two-out walk and Brian Doran was hit-by-pitch to bring the potential tying run to the plate. But Troy Black grounded out to short to end the game.

Wilkerson paced Clemson's 14-hit attack by going 4-for-5 with a double, two RBIs, and three runs. Wilkerson became the first active Tiger to tally four hits in a game during his career. Pohl went 2-for-5 with a double, two RBIs, and two runs, while Shaffer went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs. Shaffer's status will be re-evaluated during the upcoming week.

Gay went 3-for-5 with a run to lead Maine, who had 10 hits in the contest.

Clemson will travel to Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park in Charleston, SC to take on South Carolina on Friday at 6:00 PM. Gate two of the series will be held in Columbia, with game three being held next Sunday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.


Maine at #16 Clemson

Feb 26, 2012 at Clemson, SC (Doug Kingsmore Stad.)

Maine 6 (1-2)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB

Colin Gay cf 5 1 3 0 0 1 6 0 2

Scott Heath lf 5 2 2 0 0 1 4 0 0

Michael Fransoso ss 3 1 0 0 1 0 2 2 1

Ian Leisenheimer dh 4 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 3

Alex Calbick 3b 5 1 2 1 0 1 1 0 1

Justin Leisenheimer 1b 4 0 0 0 0 1 6 2 0

Fran Whitten c 4 0 2 1 1 1 2 1 0

Brian Doran rf 3 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 2

Eric White 2b 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0

Nick Bernardo ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Troy Black pr/2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2

Shaun Coughlin p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Mike Connolly p 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0

Jonathan Balentina p 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0

Totals...... 38 6 10 3 3 10 24 8 12

Clemson 9 (4-2)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB

Thomas Brittle cf 5 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 2

Steve Wilkerson 2b 5 3 4 2 0 0 1 3 0

Phil Pohl 1b 5 2 2 2 0 0 7 0 0

Daniel Gossett p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Richie Shaffer 3b 4 1 2 3 0 0 0 1 0

Jay BaumJay Baum Fr. #13 5-11, 180 Alpharetta, GA View Full Profile pr/3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

Spencer Kieboom c 4 0 1 1 0 0 11 0 1

Brad Felder rf 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0

Garrett BoulwareGarrett Boulware Fr. Catcher #30 6-1, 200 Anderson, SC View Full Profile ph/lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0

Tyler SlatonTyler Slaton Fr. Outfielder #18 5-7, 195 Cumming, GA View Full Profile lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Jon McGibbon dh/1b 2 1 0 0 2 0 2 0 1

Jason Stolz ss 3 1 2 0 1 0 2 5 0

Dominic Attanasio lf/rf 4 1 2 0 0 0 1 1 3

David HaseldenDavid Haselden Sr. RH Pitcher #29 6-4, 240 Spartanburg, SC View Full Profile p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Kevin Pohle p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

Scott Firth p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Totals...... 36 9 14 9 3 1 27 12 7

Score by Innings R H E

-------------------------------------------

Maine............... 012 300 000 - 6 10 0

Clemson............. 000 225 00X - 9 14 5

-------------------------------------------

E - BRITTLE(1); WILKERSON(1); POHL(1); BAUM(1); STOLZ(1). DP - Clemson 2.

LOB - Maine 12; Clemson 7. 2B - HEATH(1); I. LEISENHEI(1); CALBICK(1);

WILKERSON(2); POHL(2); S. KIEBOOM(2). HR - SHAFFER(2). HBP - I. LEISENHEI;

J. LEISENHEI; DORAN. SH - FRANSOSO(1). SF - FELDER(1). CS - WILKERSON(1).

Maine IP H R ER BB SO AB BF

Shaun Coughlin 5.0 7 4 4 2 0 20 23

Mike Connolly 0.2 5 5 5 1 0 7 8

Jonathan Balentina 2.1 2 0 0 0 1 9 9

Clemson IP H R ER BB SO AB BF

David Haselden 3.0 5 3 1 2 1 13 16

Kevin Pohle 3.0 4 3 0 0 4 13 14

Scott Firth 2.0 1 0 0 0 4 9 10

Daniel Gossett 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 3 5

Win - POHLE (2-0). Loss - CONNOLLY (0-1). Save - GOSSETT (1).

WP - HASELDEN(1). HBP - by POHLE (J. LEISENHEI); by FIRTH (I. LEISENHEI); by

GOSSETT (DORAN). BK - CONNOLLY(1). PB - WHITTEN(1).

Umpires - HP: Jeremy Dupree 1B: Danny Everett 3B: James Thomas

Start: 2:05 PM Time: 2:56 Attendance: 3989

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