Tigers vs Notre Dame Game 3

Clemson, SC

Clemson unable to muster anything more than briefly threading with runners on 1st and 2nd in the 4th that led to both runners being stranded. Up to that point the Tigers were 9 up and 9 down as the Notre Dame starting pitcher Cameron Junker only giving up a single hit so far through 4.  Meanwhile the Irish donning all green uniforms managed to score a single run on four hits.  That run coming on a Solo home run in the top of the second from the bat of Niko Kavadas.  

The Tigers in the bottom of the fifth first two batters up hit the ball sharply but neither able to reach base leads to Teodosio trying to get on base and spark a 2-out rally.  But no cigar as a simple fly out to the Irish center fielder ends the inning. Another three-up and three down inning for the Tigers. 

Meanwhile the Tigers starter Askew is doing good work on the mound allowing only the single earned run on the 4 hits he’s given up to the Irish while at the same time securing three strikeouts and giving up no free passes via the walk.  The Clemson offense needs a spark to get behind the quality outing here by its young pitcher. The Irish Starter on the other hand is having an even better outing giving up just the one hit so far through five complete. 

The Irish in the top half of the sixth get a runner on base after a bang-bang play at first.  Then steal second with 1 out and threaten to add to their lead with a runner in scoring position. Askew then deals from the stretch to record his fourth strike out of the day and decrease the threat by one more out.  Kavadas the owner of the single RBI in the game is at bat with a runner on and now two out.  Askew attacks him inside and out and works the count to 1-2.  Then sends a breaking ball outside the strike zone trying to get the big hitter to chase one. 2-2 as he stretches and hangs one over the plate that is stroked for a solid single to right center and a run comes across the plate for the Fighting Irish as they extend their lead to 2-0 with a man on at first and two out. Askew then gives up his first base on balls and now the Irish have runners again in scoring position with runners on first and second with two out.  

 

Askew is then substituted for by Owen Griffith.  Right hander out of Aiken, SC steps into the game down 2-0 and two runners on base and two out.  Askew leaves giving up the two earned runs and responsible for both runners on base, other wise a good outing for the young freshman. Griffith comes in and gets the Irish to fly out deep to right center and end the inning.  Damage done as the Irish add another single run. 2-0 Irish over Tigers going into the bottom of the 6th. Close the book on Askew 5 and 2/3 innings , one earned run . 

 As the Clemson batters come to the plate here in the bottom of the sixth Fairey strikes out looking bringing up Sam Hall who strokes one over into left field and the Tigers get a runner on with Logan Davidson coming to the plate.  The Tigers shortstop drives one to straight away center for back to back base knocks and now runners on 1st and second and one out for Grayson Byrd as he steps to the plate batting an even .300 on the year. Byrd hits an hot shot in the infield and creates a bang bang play at first with the throw pulling the 1st baseman off the bag. Now its runners first and third two out with Kyle Wilkie up to the plate.  Kyle drives the first pitch right to the Center fielder who had him played perfectly. Inning ends Notre Dame 2-0 over Clemson as we enter the top of the seventh. 

Griffith starts off the inning with a strike out and the Irish are at bat with one out and the next batter drives one into the turn in front of home plate and is thrown out pitcher to first, two outs and next batter first pitch swinging grounds out to Hall at second.  Seventh inning stretch time here at the Doug.  Irish leading 2-0. 

Bottom half of seven brings Bryar Hawkins to the plate and the tiger first baseman strikes out looking. Next up Davis Sharpe to the batter’s box.  Sharpe batting from the right side of the plate  flies out for out number two of the inning. Next man up Bo Majkowski trying to get on base and extend this at bat for the Tigers. The Clemson out fielder works the count to 3-2 fighting off a few pitches and is able to work himself into a walk giving the Tigers just their fourth base runner of the day.  Bryce Teodosio is now at the plate and he flies out to dead center to end the seventh.  Irish 2-0 over the Tigers.

 

Top of the eighth brings a first batter up strike out for Griffith followed by a shot of Davidson’s glove that is ruled a single and the Irish have yet another base runner on and one out. With the distractions of a runner on first stretching a lead and pitching from the prone stretch position Griffith gets a line drive to second and the put out by Hall keeps the runner at first now two out in the inning and runner still at first for the Irish. The inning ends on a long fly out to center field middle of eight and the Tigers are looking for some late inning Majic here in Clemson. 

For the Tigers leading off the bottom half of the eighth Jordan Greene pinch hits.  Monte Lee trying to infuse some spark into this lineup and get something going.  Greene laces one to left field and the Tigers have the lead off batter on.  Sam Hall up to the plate, and Hall strikes out to give the Tigers their first out of the inning.  Irish decide to make the change at pitcher and send in Tommy Vail a big left hander.  Junker left after seven and 1/3rd inning, no earned runs and only the four hits with 2 walks and eight strike outs. Logan Davison to the plate with one out and Greene on first. Greene advances to second on a wild pitch in the dirt. Logan coaxes a base on balls and now the Tigers have runners on the corners and only the one out with Byrd up to bat. Byrd laces a one out double to clear the base paths and ties the game at 2 a piece, Still the one out and now Grayson sitting a top second base and in scoring position.  Irish make yet another pitching change this time its a big right hander out of the pen, as Andrew Belcik comes in and tries to put a stop to this late inning rally by the Tigers.  Kyle Wilkie strides up to the plate to go to work agains the Irish reliever.  Wilkie works the count to 3-0 before talking a strike right down “Main Street”.  Swing and a miss for the Clemson catcher and now its a 3-2 count that see’s him fight off a pitch just foul. And on the next pitch another foul ball. Then is caught looking strike three and out number two in the inning.  Bryar Hawkins up now with two down and Byrd sitting in scoring position at second. Hawkins strikes out to end the inning and its now a 2-2 game going into the top of the 9th.  

 

 

Spiers comes on to the bump for the Tigers here in the ninth to try and hold the Irish at bay here in the last stanza of the regular time.  Batter one Coetzee flies out to short center and Logan Davidson records the out. Jared Miller up next for the Irish and he manages to blast one right up the middle for a one out base hit. John Arndorfer pinch hits for the Irish and the sit in from the bench delivers a fly out to make out number two in the top half of the ninth.  Follow that with a base hit by Meyers and the Irish are now threatening with a runner in scoring position and another on at first base.  But a great play by Hawkins at first who feeds his pitcher covering the bag makes out number three and the Tigers head to the Bottom of the ninth all knotted up 2 a piece with Sharpe, Malkowski, and Teodisio all due up to start the inning.  Irish bring in Shane Combs to finish it out on the mound.  

Sharpe get a base on balls and free “ninety” as the Tigers get the lead on batter on with no outs.  Bo works the count to 3-1 and draws a walk to now put Tigers on first and second no out and the Irish are making another trip to the mound.  Another pitcher in from the bullpen as righty Joe Boyle takes the rubber on the mound.  Tigers send in James Parker to pinch run at Second.  Teodosio attempts a bunt and luckily it drops strike one. Squared again this time its a ball 1-1.  Teodosio strikes out swinging out one of the inning Jordan Greene up to the plate. Greene first pitch drives on deep but right at the Center fielder for a the second out.  Runner tags at second and moves over to third. Two outs and the Irish conference at the mound with Sam Hall at the plate for the Tigers. Runner steals second with out drawing throw.  Second and Third with 2 out, Hall has worked count to 2-2.  Now full count two on and two out.  Hall fights one off foul. Hall goes down swinging an we are off to extra innings. 

 

 

Lead off single for the Irish in the top half of the 10th.  Next man up out on strikes for first out of the inning.  Next up a hit batsman puts two Irish on the base paths.  Kavadas who homered earlier is up for the Irish. A walk and the bases are full of Irish and only one out.  Spiers battles to get the count to 2-2, and then a snubber past the mound scores a run and the Irish are now up 3-2 after an error on the first baseman. Irish then score on an infield hit to make it 4-2 still batting with 2 outs.  Out number three comes the popup variety but the damage is done and the Tigers now trail the Irish 4-2 going into the bottom of ten. 

Davidson strikes out to start off the inning..  Byrd then strokes one between short and third for a base knock.  Wilkie up for the Tigers one out and one on. Wilkie spanks one to left center two tigers on the base paths and Adam Hackenburg up to the plate.  2 out and the young gun from Pennsylvania manages to line out to the short stop. Irish win 4-2.

 

 

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