Story Links
April 4, 2003
CLEMSON, S.C. – The University of Virginia baseball team had its season-high 10-game winning streak snapped by the #20 Clemson Tigers following UVa’s 9-4 loss in front of 4,565 spectators at the Tigers’ Doug Kingsmore Stadium. In game one of a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series, Clemson jumped out to a 7-0 lead just two innings into the contest and cruised to a five-run victory. The loss was Virginia’s ninth of the year, with all of the losses coming to ranked teams on the road.
Clemson wasted no time putting runs on the board and took an early 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when its first five batters stepped to the plate and came around to score a run. Clemson’s five-run outburst was highlighted by a two-run, RBI-double by Brad McCann.
The Tigers extended their lead to 7-0 in the bottom of the second inning when Kyle Frank and Jeff Hourigan connected on RBI-singles to drive in Michael Johnson and McCann after each player singled to reach base.
Virginia scored its first run of the game and made the score 7-1 in the top of the third inning when Scott Headd singled to lead off the side before Matt Dunn drove him in to score a run three batters later on a RBI sacrifice fly to right field.
Clemson added a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 9-1 lead before Virginia cut into the Tigers’ lead in the next inning. In the top of the sixth inning, UVa’s Mark Reynolds hit a two-run home run to center field to pull the Cavaliers within 9-3. Reynolds’ home run was his fifth of the season.
Virginia scored its final run of the game in the top of the ninth inning and made it a 9-4 contest when Chris Sweet walked before scoring a run three batters later on a RBI sacrifice fly to center field by Kyle Werman.
UVa starting pitcher Chris Gale (2-2) took the loss and lasted just 3.0 innings while allowing seven runs on 11 hits with two strikeouts. Clemson starting pitcher Tyler Lumsden (6-0) picked up his sixth win of the year and lasted 7.0 innings while allowing three runs on five hits to go along with five strikeouts.
With the loss, Virginia’s record falls to 19-9 overall, 5-4 in the ACC. The victory improves Clemson’s record to 22-6 overall, 2-2 in the conference.
The Cavaliers and Tigers will return to action on Saturday, April 5th when Virginia and Clemson play the second game of the three-game weekend series. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 PM at the Tigers’ Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
— UVa —