Tigers drop fifth straight in loss to Blue Devils

The No. 16 Clemson Tigers (25-13, 11-8 ACC) dropped their fifth straight game Friday night, as they fell to the Duke Blue Devils (22-16, 9-10 ACC) by a final score of 9-8 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

The No. 16 Clemson Tigers (25-13, 11-8 ACC) dropped their fifth straight game Friday night, as they fell to the Duke Blue Devils (22-16, 9-10 ACC) by a final score of 9-8 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Sam Hall got the Tigers started in the bottom of the first inning, as he led off the game with a solo home run--his fifth of the season--that gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

The Tigers added two runs in the bottom of the third inning, as James Parker, who led off the inning with a double, scored on Grayson Byrd's groundout and Kyle Wilkie single plated Logan Davidson.

The Blue Devils took the lead with four runs in the top of the fourth inning, as they plated four runs on five singles--including a safety-squeeze--that gave the Blue Devils a 4-0 lead.

The Tigers jumped back in front in the bottom of the fourth inning. Bo Majkowski and Jordan Greene led off with walks and moved up a base on Justin Hawkins' sacrifice bunt, then Parker plated Majkowski on a groundout that tied the game.

But the Tigers were not finished, as Hall's second home run of the day, a two-run shot, put the Tigers up 6-4.

The Blue Devils jumped back on top of the Tigers in the top of the seventh inning when they plated three runs on two hits and one error and took a 7-6 lead on the Tigers.

The Tigers re-took the lead in their half of the innings. After Hall singled and advanced to third on a balk and an infield single by Logan Davidson, he proceeded to steal home to tie the game. Davidson stole second and third base and was scored two batters later when Kyle Wilkie grounded out to third base.

The Blue Devils took the lead again in the top of the ninth inning, as a two-out single with a runner at second tied the game 8-8 and a double plated the go-ahead run.

Matt Dockman (4-1) earned the win, while Thomas Girard pitched the ninth inning to record his sixth save of the year. Owen Griffith (1-1) suffered the loss.

Tiger Tracks:

• The Tigers are averaging 6.3 runs per game and hitting .254 with a .358 on-base percentage, .418 slugging percentage and 63 steals.
• The pitching staff has a 3.59 ERA, .227 opponents’ batting average and 2.51 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Clemson is also fielding .970.

Up Next: The Tigers and the Blue Devils continue their series Saturday (3 p.m.) at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.