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May 13, 2002
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Virginia baseball team dropped a 5-3decision to the #1 ranked Clemson Tigers this afternoon at the UVa BaseballField, home of Davenport Field. Clemson held a 5-0 lead heading into thebottom of the eighth inning before UVa scored three runs to pull within twoof the Tigers. But that would be as close as Virginia would get as Clemsonheld on for the two-run victory. With the win, the Tigers earned athree-game sweep over the Cavaliers after posting a 15-4 win on Friday and a15-2 victory on Saturday in the previous two games of the ACC series.
Clemson took and early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when KyleFrank singled before scoring a run one batter later on a RBI-double by KhalilGreene to left-center field. Greene’s double, the 83rd of his career, setthe new all-time Atlantic Coast Conference record for most doubles in acareer. The Tigers extended their lead to 2-0 in the top of the secondinning when David Slevin singled before scoring a run three batters later ona ground out by Steve Pyzik.
Clemson took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning when Frank scored hissecond run of the game when Michael Johnson was hit by a pitch with the basesloaded. The Tigers pulled ahead 5-0 in the top of the fifth inning whenJohnson hit a two-run home run to left-center field. Johnson’s home run washis 18th of the season.
Virginia finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the eighth inning andmade it a 5-3 contest after back-to-back RBI-doubles by Dan Street and RobertWord. Street’s double scored David Stone (single) before Word’s double drovein Street. Word scored a run himself two batters later when Rob Newtonconnected on a RBI-single to left-center field to pull the Cavaliers withintwo-runs of the Tigers. But that would be all the scoring UVa would musteras Clemson held on for the 5-3 victory.
UVa starting pitcher Greg Hansard (1-2) made his first career start and went5.2 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits with threestrikeouts in the loss. The Tigers’ Tyler Lumsden (2-0) made only his secondstart of the year, but looked superb as he pitched six scoreless innings andscattered five hits to go along with six strikeouts as he gathered the win.Patrick Hogan picked up his fourth save of the year after going 1.1 inningsand allowed one hit.
With the loss, Virginia’s record falls to 24-26 overall, 8-13 in the ACC.The win improves Clemson’s record to 43-9 overall, 16-5 in the conference.
The Cavaliers will return to action on Wednesday, May 15th when UVa travelsto State College, Pa. to face the Penn State Nittany Lions in anon-conference doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 noon. TheTigers will also return to action on Wednesday when Clemson travels toCullowhee, N.C. to face the Western Carolina Catamounts. First pitch isscheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Childress Field at Hennon Stadium.
— UVa —