March 3, 2009

Box Score

CLEMSON, S.C. -- Brian Harrison's two-out, two-run home run in the ninth inning forged a 2-2 tie, and Furman pushed across two runs in the 14th inning to beat 19th-ranked Clemson, 4-2, in college baseball action Tuesday afternoon at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Harrison's dramatic two-run blast over the left field fence capped a ninth inning comeback for Furman (4-2), which came within one strike of being no-hit. With Clemson (4-2) leading 2-0 and with two outs in the frame, Furman's Connor Lind topped a two-ball, two-strike pitch high off the plate into the grass approximately six feet inside the third base line and easily beat the throw from Tiger third baseman Matt Sanders to break up the no-hitter. Harrison then deposited the first pitch he saw, a fastball from Clemson reliever Ryan Hinson, deep over the left field fence to tie the game at 2-2.

In the decisive 14th Marcus Rose drew a leadoff walk, stole second, and advanced to third on a third strike wild pitch. Following a groundout that put runners at second and third, Matt Hemingway was intentionally walked to load the bases. Reese Wade's fielder's choice RBI grounder plated Rose to give Furman a 3-2 lead, and Campbell Lewis capped the inning with a solid single through the left side to score Lind and make it 4-2.

In the Clemson 14th, freshman Kevin Gottlieb, Furman's eighth pitcher of the game, worked around a couple of walks with a pair of strikeouts to earn his first collegiate save and nail down the victory for Furman, its third over the the Tigers in the last four years and fifth since 2003.

"I thought we competed from start to finish and hung in there real well," said Furman head coach Ron Smith. "Clemson is a very solid team with good pitching, and it was a real task for us to match them tonight with some of our young guys."

After Clemson's Brad Miller's bloop two-out, two-run single in the fourth inning off Paladin reliever Stephen Gary staked the Tigers to a 2-0 lead, Furman's bullpen slammed the door, pitching shutout ball and allowing only four hits while recording nine strikeouts over the final 10 innings. During one stretch from the sixth until two outs in the 10th, Paladin hurlers retired 12 consecutive Tigers.

Prior to its ninth-inning rally, Furman's best opportunity to break up Clemson's no-hit bid came in the eighth when Lewis led off with a hard ground ball up the middle, but Tiger shortstop Brad Miller dove to his left to collect the ball and made the throw to first for the out.

In Furman ninth Aaron Thompkins struck out to lead off and Marcus Rose was retired on a grounder to third. Lind then worked the count to 2-2 before coming through with the infield single off Clemson reliever Ryan Hinson to break up the no-hitter and set the stage for Harrison's two-run clout, his second of the season.

Marc DeDecker (2-0), who came on with one out and one on in the Clemson 12th, worked 1 2/3 innings of shutout ball, to earn the victory.

The loss went to Tomas Cruz (0-1).

Lewis had two of the Paladins' six base hits, and Lind scored a pair of runs.

Ben Paulsen went 3-for-6 to lead Clemson, which also finished with six hits.

There were no errors in the game, which was played in blustery conditions with temperatures in the high 30s and snow and ice still visible in the warning track area in deep center field.

Furman returns to action on Wednesday when it entertains Charlotte. First pitch is set for 5:00 p.m. at Latham Stadium.