After a promising fall season for Clemson club baseball, Feb. 8 marked its spring season opener. Clemson played a series against Georgia Tech on Saturday and Sunday, a weekend that proved both victorious and challenging for the Tigers.
In the top of the first inning, junior Andrew Moody dominated, as he caused two popouts and a strikeout. Leading off the bottom of the first was junior Evan Mastrobattisto, reaching third on an error in left field. Mastrobattisto attempted to steal home with senior Peter Erskine up to bat, ending the first inning with an out.
At the bottom of the second inning, Clemson trailed 1-0 behind Georgia Tech. The score progressed, and the Tigers headed into the bottom of the third inning at a 2-0 deficit. Sophomore Reece Purcell hit a single to shortstop, then stole second and third. Freshman William Stalzer hit a single to left field, assisting with Clemson’s first run of the game. Sophomore Caden Colangelo followed with a single to bring the second home run.
Heading into the top of the fifth inning, the game was tied 2-2. Clemson saw junior Joe Gonzales and freshman Peyton Stefoff, among others, field outs and allow Georgia Tech only one run. At the top of the sixth inning, the score was 3-2 Georgia Tech. Clemson fielded defensively, with senior Marc Sussman coming in to pitch a strikeout to move into the bottom of the sixth with a score of 5-2 in favor of Georgia Tech.
Nearing the end of game one in the bottom of the seventh, sophomore Ty Baker hit a single. The final score was 5-2, with Georgia Tech winning the first game of the series.
Moving into game two, Clemson came out stronger. Heading into the bottom of the second inning, Georgia Tech was up 1-0. With sophomore Jack Murphy on first and Baker up to bat, Murphy stole second and scored the first run of the game for Clemson.
Pitcher Kenny Lombardo induced a few pop flies that were fielded to move into the bottom of the third.
The top of the fourth was short, as Clemson’s Erskine and Colangelo fielded a double play to get the last out. As the bottom of the fifth began, the game was still tied 1-1.
Purcell hit a single to right field and stole second. With Mastrobattisto up to bat, a single to left field sent Purcell home to score run two of the game. Stalzer hit a single to left center field, and Mastrobattisto advanced to third base.
Clemson continued to dominate the bottom of the fifth inning. Colangelo hit a home run just past right-center field, bringing Mastrobattisto and Stalzer home to score three runs. Junior Adam Schiff followed with a double, and then Baker followed suit with another that sent Schiff to score, making it 6-1 Clemson. With Stefoff on first and Baker on second, Purcell hit a home run over left-center field to make the score 9-1 Clemson.
An inning later, with Stalzer and Colangelo on second and third base, Erskine hit a high ball to left-center field, sending them home. With the score 11-1 Clemson, game two ended with a mercy rule.
Last Sunday marked the last game of the series against Georgia Tech. Headed into the top of the first, sophomore pitcher Grayson St. Romain assisted on a play at first to get the first out. A hit to center field and a hit to left field by Georgia Tech left the Yellow Jackets with a lead of 2-0. Stalzer hit a double down the line, and Colangelo followed with a hit, leaving a man on first and third.
With no runs scored by Clemson in the first inning, the team headed into the top of the second with Georgia Tech hitting a home run.
The bottom of the third starts with a score of 3-0 Georgia Tech. Mastrobattisto hit a single down left field, and Stalzer hit a single to right-center. A double hit by Colangelo brought Mastrobattisto and Stalzer in to make the score 3-2 Georgia Tech. Murphy and Colangelo made a double play to move into the bottom of the fifth.
With players on second and third base, Colangelo hit a double to center field, giving Clemson the lead.
With high energy in the seventh inning, Mastrobattisto, Colangelo and Murphy assisted in a double play, resulting in outs on first and second base. In the bottom of the seventh, Stalzer hit a triple, sending Mastrobattisto home. Colangelo hit a single up the middle to bring Stalzer home. With a score of 6-3, Erskine hit a home run, and Clemson headed into the eighth inning with all the momentum.
Following a 9-3 rubber match, Clemson was victorious in its spring season opener against Georgia Tech and will play again at home on Feb. 15 against Gardner-Webb.
