Clemson baseball thumps Hartford in doubleheader to sweep series

GAME ONE

CLEMSON, S.C. – The Clemson Tigers scored multiple runs in four innings in their 13-3 win over Hartford in the first game of a doubleheader at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers, who took a 2-0 lead in the series, improved to 6-0 on the season, while the Hawks dropped to 0-2.

In the first inning, Bryar Hawkins grounded a two-out, two-run single, then Hartford scored two two-out runs on four singles in the top of the second inning to tie the score. Clemson regained the lead in the bottom of the second inning on Tyler Corbitt’s sacrifice fly.

In the fifth inning, Chad Fairey ripped a run-scoring single, then the Tigers added a run in the frame on a catcher’s interference with two outs. In the sixth inning, Clemson plated four more runs, highlighted by Hawkins’ run-scoring single and Fairey’s two-run homer, his first of the year. Fairey, who had a career-high five RBIs, grounded a two-run single in the seventh inning, then Clemson added run-scoring singles by Mac Starbuck and Dylan Brewer in the frame.

Tiger reliever Ty Olenchuk (1-0) earned the win, as he allowed two hits, no runs and no walks with three strikeouts in 3.0 innings pitched. Hartford starter James Judenis (0-1) suffered the loss, as he yielded three runs on five hits in 4.0 innings pitched.

GAME TWO

CLEMSON, S.C. – Behind at least one run in each of the eight innings it batted, Clemson blasted Hartford 28-3 in the second game of a doubleheader at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Saturday. The Tigers, who swept the three-game series by a combined score of 47-7, improved to 7-0 on the season, while the Hawks fell to 0-3.

The Tigers scored in every inning in which they batted for the seventh time in history and the first time since 2011. Clemson’s 28 runs were its most since scoring 28 in a game in 1969 and tied for the second-most runs in a game in school history. Every Tiger starter had at least one hit, as Clemson’s 25 hits were its most in a game since 2006.

The Tigers took advantage of two errors in the first inning to score two runs, with the latter on Bryar Hawkins’ run-scoring single. After Logan Cole’s two-out, two-run single in the top of the second inning, Clemson capitalized again on a Hawk miscue to score six more unearned runs in the bottom of the second inning after the first two batters of the frame were retired. Cooper Ingle ripped a two-run single, then Hawkins lofted a three-run homer, his second long ball of the season to highlight the uprising.

After Clemson added a ninth unearned run in the third inning, they plated three runs in the fourth inning, keyed by Benjamin well’s run-scoring single. Blackwell added a three-run double and Brewer laced a run-scoring single in the fifth inning. In the sixth inning, Clemson scored six runs, highlighted by run-scoring hits by Max Wagner, Camden Troyer, Jonathan French and Mac Starbuck. In the eighth inning, Clemson added five runs, capped by Wagner’s three-run homer.

Tiger starter Nick Hoffmann (1-0) earned the win by giving up three hits, two runs and one walk with six strikeouts in 5.0 innings pitched. Hartford starter Will Nowak (0-1) suffered the loss, as he surrendered nine hits, nine unearned runs and two walks in 3.0 innings pitched.

The Tigers conclude their homestand with a game against USC Upstate on Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on ACC Network Extra.