No. 10 Clemson baseball completed the sweep on Sunday, defeating the Virginia Tech Hokies 9-6 at English Field in Blacksburg, Virginia.
It is the second straight ACC sweep for the Tigers, who swept Louisville last weekend before this series against the Hokies.
The Tigers stuck first in the opening inning. After loading the bases with two outs, second baseman Riley Bertram was able to bring in two Clemson runs to open the scoring. In the bottom half of the first, the Hokies were able to cut the lead when Carson DeMartini singled into left field to bring a run home.
The Hokies then took the lead in the bottom of the second after Clemson’s Cam Cannarella made a tough read on the ball. After coming off of his glove off a hit by Virginia Tech’s Garrett Michel, it allowed a run to score for the Hokies to tie the game. The next batter, Carson Jones, singled off of the first pitch allowing Michel to score from second base and the Hokies took the lead.
The Tigers were able to quickly respond in the third, however. First baseman Billy Amick continues to hit incredibly, hitting a ball through the left side to bring home Will Taylor and tie the game. Two batters later and with two outs, Clemson third baseman Blake Wright roped a line drive into left field to bring home two and retake the lead for the Tigers. Benjamin Blackwell continued the two-out rally with a single, scoring another run for the Tigers in a vital third inning to take a 6-3 lead.
The Tigers added two home runs to help cushion the lead. Cooper Ingle added a home run to the tally, blasting a ball 428 feet to make it an 8-3 Tiger lead in the sixth. Catcher Billy Amick hit one into the stands himself as well, hitting an opposite-field solo home run into right field. Amick’s blast is his tenth home run this season.
Junior dual-threat Caden Grice earned the win on the mound for Clemson, allowing five hits, five walks and five strikeouts, allowing three earned runs. The junior also showed his skills at the plate, grounding out to bring in a run and scoring a run himself.
With the win on Sunday, Clemson’s record is now 35-17 with a 17-10 record in conference play. The win also will strengthen the Tigers’ resume, who have now won six straight ACC series. The Tigers have gotten hot at the perfect time, taking their scorching hot streak into the final week of the regular season before the ACC Tournament.
Next up, Clemson will return home for a single-game series against USC Upstate on Tuesday night at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, who look for their ninth win in a row.
