Tigers slug their way into the winner's bracket

Grayson Byrd connects on a two-run home run in the Tigers' 8-4 win over the Fighting Illini
Tigers slug their way into the winner's bracket
Tigers slug their way into the winner's bracket /

OXFORD, Miss.-- The No. 3 seed Clemson Tigers advanced to the winner's bracket of the Oxford Regional after they defeated the second-seeded Illinois Fighting Illini by a final score of 8-4 Friday at Swayze Field.

"Well, great ballgame today," head coach Monte Lee said. "David Sharpe, outstanding for us out of the bullpen. I had to go to him early, maybe a little earlier than we would've liked to but felt like at that time and at that point in the game that was the right time to go to him, and Illinois just did an outstanding job of squaring up Hennessy.

"But we, we felt like offensively we were in good shape and we're going to score some runs today. Got started off with a bang. Logan would a big double in the first and we'll keep with a two strike base hit to get us ahead right there in the first and then Michael Greene and Grayson Byrd both with big home runs and give us our first of two beginnings. We all know how valuable the beginning is and winning games. We put up another one, maybe our best offense of ending was the seventh where we score three again and then tacked on another run in the eighth to score eight runs on a day against the pitching staff."

The Tigers moved to 4-0 against the Illini, as they won both games against Illinois at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in 1986 and won again 9-3 in the 2000 Clemson Regional.

The Tigers opened the scoring in the top of the first inning. After Logan Davidson doubled and was brought home on Kyle Wilkie's two-out single, the Tigers led 1-0 after their half of the first inning.

The Illini wasted little time tying the game up, as a lead off double leadoff double by Branden Comia, and scored on an RBI groundout by Zac Taylor that tied the game, 1-1.

The Illini took the lead for the first time in the bottom of the second inning, after a hit-by-pitch, a single and a fielder's choice plated the go-ahead run and gave the Illini a 2-1 lead.

That lead was short-lived, as the Tigers broke out the big sticks in the top of the third inning. A lead off home run by Michael Green gave tied the game. But the Tigers were not finished. After a walk to Davidson, Grayson Byrd launched his 11th home run in the last 15 games and gave the Tigers a 4-2 lead.

"Michael Green has been on fire. He's been such a huge addition to our team. You know here in the last 10 or 12 whatever games it is that he's been back in our lineup, he's been swinging the bat really well," Lee said. "Offensively we were in a really good place right now and we put a great defense of ballgame."

The Illini did not go quietly, as they plated one run on two hits. That run ended the day for Tiger starting pitcher Jacob Hennessy, who lasted 2.1 innings and allowed six hits and three runs. True freshman Davis Sharpe entered in relief and ended the inning without further damage.

"We would have liked to have gotten deeper into the game with Jacob, but we, it's just like you said, we don't use two pitchers in today's game," Lee said. "Certainly is going to help us as we go into tomorrow and into the next day. So it was great to be able to get out of here. Having used two guys would have liked to have gotten deeper with Jacob, but Dave certainly stepped up and a very well for us and that was the recipe for the win today."

After both teams combined for six scoreless at bats, the Tigers bats once again caught fire in the top of the seventh and eighth. The Tigers plated three runs on three hits in the bottom of the seventh inning, and added an insurance run in the top of the eighth inning to take an 8-3 lead on the Illini.

The Illini added a single run in the bottom of the ninth.

Davis Sharpe earned the win for the Tigers, as he went 6.2 innings, allowed one run and only three hits. Ty Weber took the loss for the Illini.

Tiger Tracks: 

• The Tigers are averaging 6.6 runs per game and hitting .266 with a .365 on-base percentage, .444 slugging percentage and 91 steals. 

• The pitching staff has a 4.39 ERA, .245 opponents’ batting average and 2.30 strikeout-to-walk ratio and Clemson is fielding .971.

Up Next: The Tigers play the winner of the game between No. 1 seed Mississippi (37-25) and No. 4 seed Jacksonville State (37-21) Saturday (7 p.m., TBD)


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Zach Lentz
ZACH LENTZ

The home for Clemson Tiger sports is manned by Zach Lentz, the 2017 South Carolina Sports Writer of the Year and author of “The Journey to the Top”—which reached No.1 on Amazon.com’s best seller list for sports books. Zach has covered the Clemson program for 10 years and in that time has devoted his time to bringing Clemson fans the breaking stories, features, game previews, recaps and information that cannot be found anywhere else.