Billy Amick hit two long balls and drove in five runs to lead Clemson to a 10-2 road win over NC State on Friday.
The Tigers also got a quality start from Ethan Darden, as the freshman moves to 3-2 on the season. Darden allowed just one run and tied a career high with six innings of work, while scattering eight hits. Tristan Smith, Casey Tallent and Joe Allen combined to hold NC State to just one run over the final three innings.
Clemson got things going early, pushing across three runs on Amick’s first home run of the night in the top of the first. NC State would bounce back with a run of its own in the bottom half of the inning, but Darden would end up stranding two runners to escape any further damage.
The Tigers then got a two-run shot from Cooper Ingle in the third inning, pushing the lead to 5-1. It was Ingle’s fifth home run of the season. In the fourth, Benjamin Blackwell added an RBI single and another run scored on an NC State fielding error, giving Clemson a 7-1 cushion.
The Tigers added another run in the sixth when Blackwell drove in his second run of the game with an RBI single to left. In the seventh, Amick hit his second home run, this one a two-run shot out to left, putting Clemson up 10-1. The Wolfpack added a run in the seventh on a balk by Smith.
With the win Clemson has now won seven of its past ten games and moves to 23-16 overall and 7-9 in ACC play. NC State drops to 25-12 and 9-9 in league play.
Player of the Game: Amick continues to stay hot at the plate as he finished the night 4-for-5. On top of the two home runs, Amick also had a single and a double, finishing a triple shy of the cycle. The sophomore now has six home runs on the season and 22 RBI and has raised his average to .413.
Stat of the Game: Clemson hitters pounded out 14 hits in the game and were 3-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
Key Moment: With the Tigers up 5-1, the Wolfpack threatened to cut into the lead in the bottom of the third. With runners on second and third and two out, Darden got Carter Trice to foul out to get out of the jam.
Up Next: The same two teams will face off in the second game of the weekend series on Saturday. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Clemson Athletics
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