CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Clemson put six runs on Charlotte’s starter before the 49ers could record their third out Tuesday and won 7-3 at Truist Field. 1,774 at Truist on an 84-degree afternoon, wind blowing to center, and most of them were still finding their seats when it was already a game-deciding rally.
Clemson is 24-14. Charlotte drops to 18-18, right at .500 on the year.
Bryce Clavon singled. Tryston McCladdie worked a four-pitch walk behind him. Nate Savoie lined one up the middle and the bases were loaded with nobody out. Luke Gaffney grounded to third, RBI. Then Jarrell went yard to left field. Three more runs, Perez done, six batters faced and five of them earned. Charlotte called for Stanton before the inning was over.
Didn’t help.
Tyler Lichtenberger walked and stole second. Jason Fultz Jr., who went deep at Santa Clara a week ago, reached when Charlotte’s second baseman dropped a grounder, moving Lichtenberger to third. Jackson Moore lined a two-run double to center and two more scored. A balk pushed Moore to third. McCladdie popped out.
Savoie doubled to lead off the fourth. Gaffney singled him home.
Seven-nothing.
Bell had worked through the third and fourth without giving Charlotte a run. Aaron Orozco walked to lead off the fifth. Walker Morgan came on as a pinch-hitter and lined a double to center to score him. Spencer Nolan struck out. Hudson took Bell deep for two to right, cutting it to 7-3, and Clemson pulled Bell with the lead at four. LeGUERNIC entered, walked a pair, and got Nedry to ground out to end it.
LeGUERNIC finished 2.2 innings, five strikeouts, no runs allowed.
Charlotte loaded the bases in the eighth with nobody out. Dylan Koontz singled, Alec DeMartino walked, and Robert Nedry singled through the right side. Veasey came in and punched out Jimenez. Then Orozco. Then Morgan. All three swinging.
Ballgame.
Charlotte stranded 10 and went 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Nine walks issued by the 49ers’ staff across nine innings, and Clemson did enough damage with the first batch that the rest barely mattered. The Tigers left eight on base themselves, went 4-for-11 with runners on. Still won by four. Two days after a 14-inning loss to North Carolina at home, this was the response. Six runs before Charlotte could get three outs. LeGUERNIC didn’t allow a run in 2.2 innings. Veasey struck out the side with the bases loaded and the tying run still on deck.
Moore had four RBI Friday against North Carolina. He added two more Tuesday, going 2-for-4. Jarrell was 2-for-5 with three RBI and the swing that made it academic. Gaffney drove in two runs on one hit. Savoie scored twice and didn’t need extra-base power to do it.
Clemson travels to Charlottesville to open a three-game ACC series against Virginia on Thursday at 7 p.m. on ACCN.
