Clemson uses extra innings for 5-4 win, sweeping Indiana. Here’s what we learned
For the third straight year, Clemson opened the season with a weekend series sweep.
The Tigers used a 10-inning, 5-4 win over Indiana on Sunday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium to get the job done. They opened the season by beating the Hoosiers 9-0 on Friday and 19-4 on Saturday.
Tied 4-4 heading into the bottom of the 10th, Benjamin Blackwell and Dylan Brewer singled to start. Two batters later, Bryar Hawkins’ sacrifice fly to right gave Blackwell, who homered on Friday, enough time to score the game-winning run.
“It wasn’t necessarily always pretty, but it was a very hard-fought game,” Clemson head coach Monte Lee said. “It was good to see Bryar Hawkins come up there with just a hug at bat to win the game for us.
“Extra innings, that’s good for your club. That’s going to give them confidence going into those situations as we move forward, so it was great to have a game like that.”
Here’s what we learned about the Tigers (3-0) after the season-opening weekend series:
Crucial, deep bullpen
With the game close the whole way through, Lee called bullpen pitchers Ty Olenchuk and Jay Dill the keys to the game. The duo combined to pitch three innings, allowed two hits without giving up any runs or walks while fanning three of 11 batters faced. Olenchuk threw a perfect seventh inning, striking out the final batter — Peter Serruto — to retire the side.
Dill, in particular, stood out after having thrown the eighth and ninth innings and holding the Hoosiers to two hits while striking out two. The freshman also pitched an inning the day before and also had two strikeouts.
“Unbelievable to be a freshman pitching on short rest,” Lee said of the Tennessee native. “Just in high-leverage situations, for him to be able to pitch the way he did, it says a lot about him.”
Having Dill and Olenchuk was key for the Tigers after starting pitcher Nick Hoffmann struggled to get going. The redshirt sophomore gave up two earned runs on four hits in the first three innings. Jackson Lindley also had some difficulty on the hill. The pitching woes forced Lee’s hand in bringing in Ryan Ammons then Alex Edmondson earlier than anticipated. Ammons gave up a two-out RBI double in the sixth then walked a batter to load the bases. Edmondson came in and gave up a run on a bases-loaded walk but responded by getting the final out of the sixth inning to put Indiana up, 4-3.
Grice still a pitching option
Discussions of whether or not Caden Grice, who homered in the third, would pitch this season were answered when the sophomore threw the final frame for the Tigers. The sophomore from Greer struck out the leadoff batter but then walked two and gave up a hit. Clemson’s defense backed him up at the end with a fielder’s choice at third after the bases were loaded to end the inning.
Lee said Grice wasn’t given too much of a heads up that he’d be pitching in the game, which he feels is better for the righty. While he may not have known specifics, Grice had been throwing in between innings, so he was loose and ready when his number was called to take the hill in the 10th.
“Whether he needs me to start a game, close a game, relief in the middle, doesn’t matter,” Grice said. “I told (Lee) I’m always ready for any opportunity he needs me on the mound.”
Looking for the lineup
Lee faces a good problem in still having competition at multiple positions. The series against the Hoosiers allowed Clemson to explore those opportunities and see who fits the best in each spot.
“We’ve got what we feel like is a pretty steady six guys that are going to be in that lineup every day and we have three spots that we want to try some different platoons,” Lee said. “We just wanted to try different combinations of guys and get as many guys on the field as possible because we want to learn as much as we can by the time we get into Week Three and Week Four. We want to know as much as we can about our club, so I look at it as a benefit. … Now, as we move forward, those guys have been in games so when they’re coming off the bench or they get a start, they’re comfortable. They’re a little more at ease in the face of competition.”
Jonathan French and Cooper Ingle auditioned for the catcher’s spot with Ingle being behind home plate in two games and French catching the opener. Lee also mentioned JD Brock, who he called the Tigers’ “best defensive outfielder,” third baseman Max Wagner, pinch hitter Tyler Corbitt and designated hitter Billy Amick among those who stood out during the weekend.
“(Ammick) drilled a baseball today and a lot of days, if he gets just a little wind, that ball’s gone, or a center fielder that can’t quite jump that high,” Lee said of Hoosiers center fielder Bobby Whalen’s athletic grab.
Up next
Clemson continues a eight-game homestand by hosting College of Charleston at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
