April 16, 2002

Final Stats

Clemson, S.C. - Western Carolina led top-ranked Clemson on three occasions, but the Tigers erased deficits each time on the strength of two home runs by Michael Johnson and a three-run homer by Khalil Greene to defeat the Catamounts, 13-9, Tuesday night at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

The Tigers, who are ranked first in every major collegiate poll, improved to 31-4, while Western dropped to 22-13.

Clemson took the lead for good in the seventh after trading runs with Western Carolina for most of the game. Chad Coder doubled to get things going for Clemson and he scored two batters later on L.J. DeMaino's second RBI single of the evening. Pinch hitter Russell Triplett, who reached on a walk, scored on a wild pitch and Kyle Frank walked to bring Khalil Greene to the plate. The senior belted his 11th home run of the season to give Clemson a 13-8 lead it would not relinquish.

Thomas Boozer (1-0) earned his first win of the year for Clemson by pitching 3.1 innings in relief, allowing two hits and one run while walking one and striking out two. DeMaino and Coder each had three hits to pace the Clemson offense. Seth Foster (6-2) picked up the loss for the Catamounts.

Western Carolina took an early 1-0 lead in the first when Alan Beck hit a two-out triple that bounced off the top of the right-field fence and later scored on a Donovan Minero single. Clemson answered immediately in the bottom of the frame with its own two-out rally. Greene singled and was followed by Baker's blast to straight away center field to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead. In the second inning, Coder reached on an infield hit, stole second and came home on DeMaino's single for a 3-1 lead.

The Catamounts came back with three runs in the third off of an RBI single by Beck and a two-run double by Todd Buchanan. Clemson regained the lead in the bottom of the frame when Johnson sent a 3-2 pitch soaring over the right field fence. The home run was Johnson's 14th of the season, which put him back into a tie with Baker for the team lead. Coder singled in a run to cap the scoring as Clemson secured a 6-4 advantage.

Western loaded the bases with one out in the sixth. Relief pitcher Chad Bendinelli entered the game and got Beck to tap one back to the mound, but Bendinelli's lob toss to the plate was bobbled by catcher Steve Pyzik, who got the force at home but not a double play. Buchanan then stepped up to the plate and crushed Bendinelli's first offering deep to right for a grand slam, the third of his career. Buchanan, who was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate, finished with a career-high six RBIs. The Catamounts loaded the bases again in the inning before reliever Thomas Boozer recorded the final out.

With two away in the bottom of the sixth, Johnson struck again, hitting another two-run bomb to right field to knot the game at eight. It marked the third multi-home run game of the season for Johnson.

Boozer set down the Catamounts in the seventh and gave up one run in the eighth while the Tiger bats went to work. He induced a 4-6-3 double play to end the game in the ninth.

Beck joined Buchanan in having a solid night at the plate, going 3-for-5 with four runs scored. Rod Goldston only had one hit, but reached base three times on walks, scoring twice.

Western Carolina will return to action on Wednesday (April 17) to face Tennessee Tech. The Eagles have won five of their last six and are coming off a season which saw them play in an NCAA Regional in 2001. First pitch at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium is set for 3 pm. The WCU-TTU game is just one of four home dates left for the Cats. Western will also host VMI in a double header on May 4 and a single game on May 5. Western will also host the Clemson Tigers in its final home game on May 15.