CLEMSON- Caden Grice struck out a career-high 11 Louisville hitters as Clemson downed the Cardinals 7-3 on Sunday to complete at three-game weekend sweep.
Grice scattered seven hits across 6.1 innings of work, allowing three runs, with one of those being unearned. Reed Garris, Casey Tallent and Ryan Ammons would combine to hold the Cards scoreless over the final 2.2 innings. Ammons came on to record the final out with two runners aboard to pick up his fourth save.
“Caden, outstanding job settling in,” Bakich said. “We were on the ropes early, couldn’t get a leadoff hitter out. Caden did an awesone job of starting to land his pitches and just letting his defense play.”
With the win, the Tigers improve to 31-17 overall and 14-10 in ACC play. The loss drops the Cardinals to 29-18 and 9-15.
Louisville jumped out to an early 1-0 after an RBI double by Eddie King Jr in the top of the first but Clemson would come right back in the bottom half of the the inning. Cooper Ingle extended his hitting streak to 19 games with a one-out double and Will Taylor would then launch a 2-run shot out to right, putting the Tigers up 2-1. It was Taylor’s third home run of the season.
The Cardinals would tie it right back up in the second on an RBI hit by Chris Beard. Clemson went back on top in the bottom half of the inning when freshman Jack Crighton scored on a sacrifice fly by Ingle.
The Tigers would extend the lead to 4-2 in the fifth thanks to an RBI double by Ingle. In the bottom of the sixth, Billy Amick hit a mammoth home run out to left, a solo shot, making it 5-2. It was Amick’s eighth homer of the season. The Tigers would add another run later that inning when Riley Bertram scored from third on a passed ball.
Louisville then got a sacrifice fly from Christian Knapczyk in the top of the seventh to cut the lead to 6-3.
Will Taylor then led off the bottom half of the inning with a walk. Two wild pitches and a passed ball would allow Taylor to score, giving Clemson a 7-3 advantage.
“We kept the pressure on,” Bakich said. ” We were fortunate to get the long ball today with Willy T’s 2-run homer and Billy’s, and Ingle with a big two out RBI double. It was just one of those games where we had to keep the gas pedal down.”
Player of the Game: Not only did Ingle get it done at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored, but the Clemson catcher also gunned down three Louisville base runners from behind the plate.
Stat of the Game: Louisville used eight different pitchers in the game after starter Tucker Biven lasted just 2.2 innings.
Up Next: The Tigers will head to Conway on Wednesday to face off with Coastal Carolina. Clemson run-ruled the Chanticleers earlier this season at Doug Kingsmore. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be streamed on ACCNX.
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