Area college baseball: Clemson drops heartbreaker

Published: Sunday, March 11, 2012 at 3:15 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, March 12, 2012 at 2:09 a.m.

CLEMSON ? What Clemson baseball has learned about itself in consecutive series losses to top-10 teams is this Tigers' team has little margin for error.

No. 20 Clemson knew its bats would not be able to outslug teams this season as in past years, instead hoping improved run prevention would make up for offensive losses.

But in a series loss to No. 3 South Carolina, and in being swept by No. 8 North Carolina, Clemson's pitching and defense have also struggled.

Clemson blew a three-run lead in the ninth inning Sunday against North Carolina before losing, 6-5, in 11 innings. The loss dropped Clemson to 1-5 in one-run games and 0-2 in extra innings games on the season.

SOUTH CAROLINA 3, PRINCETON 1: In Columbia, Erik Payne went 2-for-3 with two RBIs including his first career home run and six Gamecock pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts as No. 2 South Carolina (13-1) upended Princeton to sweep a three-game series. Carolina starter Colby Holmes hurled five scoreless innings with just four hits allowed to pick up the win. He is now 3-0 on the year. He struck out six and walked one. Freshman right-hander Evan Beal pitched a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts to earn his second save of the weekend and of the series. Princeton starter Matt Bowman allowed three runs on five hits in seven innings of work in the loss. He is now 1-1 for the season. He struck out two and walked two.

EASTERN KENTUCKY 10, WOFFORD 2: In Spartanburg, Wofford (8-8) was defeated by Eastern Kentucky at Russell C. King Field. The Colonels had a 3-1 lead after the third inning and added four runs in the ninth inning to take the weekend series 2-1. The Terriers were led by Stephen Cantrell who had two hits and a RBI. Mac Doyle added two hits. The Colonels had three hits each from A.J. Jamison, Richie Rodriguez, and Sean Hagen. Wofford had four errors in the game.

Source: http://www.goupstate.com/article/20120311/articles/120319968

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