Published: June 01, 2007
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.
No. 2 seed Clemson overcame one-run deficits in both the eighth
and ninth innings, and the Tigers hit a walk-off infield single to
win the opener at the NCAA Myrtle Beach Regional, 3-2, on Friday
afternoon.
Brian Kemp broke a 1-1 tie with an RBI single in the top of the
ninth, but Tigers center fielder Brad Chalk drove in the winning
run with a single that trickled through the left side of the Red
Storm infield.
With the loss, St. John's fell to 40-18 on the year and moved to
the loser's bracket of the regional, where it awaits either No. 1
seed Coastal Carolina or No. 4 Virginia Commonwealth. Clemson,
making its 21st consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, improves to
39-21 and plays the winner of Friday's late matchup.
Sophomore left-hander
Scott Barnes pitched a gem for the Red Storm, holding the
Tigers to six hits and one run while striking out seven over 7.2
innings. He left with a no-decision in the eighth and gave way to
sophomore closer
Colin Lynch, who was tagged with the loss after allowing three
hits and two runs in one inning.
Despite giving up the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth,
Clemson made a winner of reliever Alan Farina, as he improved to
6-3 on the season. Starting pitcher Daniel Moskos went
pitch-for-pitch with Barnes, giving up one run on seven hits over
eight innings.
Senior
Chris Joachim appeared in his third career NCAA Regional and
broke a scoreless tie with a solo home run in the top of the fifth
inning. Kemp drove in the team's second run, with
Ryan Mahoney scoring from third base in the top of the ninth.
Senior catcher
Brendan Monaghan and junior shortstop
Jeff Grantham added two hits apiece.
St. John's threatened first, loading the bases with two outs in
the top of the second inning. Monaghan and
Anthony Smith each hit singles through the infield, and
Grantham drew a two-out walk to load the bases. The next batter,
Kemp, nearly beat out a groundball to Tigers shortstop Taylor
Harbin, but the throw beat Kemp by a stride and Clemson escaped
with no damage.
The Tigers got a pair of singles off Barnes in the third and put
runners on second and third base with one out. Barnes got a
check-swing strikeout to D.J. Mitchell and a quick catch and throw
groundout to third baseman
Gil Zayas to preserve the scoreless tie.
Joachim got the Red Storm on the board in the fifth with his
second home run of the season. The senior ripped a 1-0 offering
from Moskos through the wind and over the left field wall for just
the third homer allowed by Moskos in 2007.
The Tigers scratched out the tying run in the bottom of the
eighth, using two infield singles, a wild pitch and a sacrifice
bunt to score their first run. Addison Johnson started the frame
with an infield single to first base, then moved to third on a sac
bunt by J.D. Burgess and a wild pitch by Barnes. Leadoff hitter
Brad Chalk plated the run with a high chopper that went off the
glove of second baseman
Sam DeLuca.
Kemp drove in the go-ahead run with an infield single in the top
of the ninth. The freshman's infield hit capped a two-out rally
after Mahoney drew a walk and Grantham singled up the middle. Kemp
hit a chopper between first and second base that first baseman Andy
D'Alessio gloved, but could not beat the speedy freshman to the
bag. Mahoney scored from third on the play, and the Red Storm took
a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth.
The Tigers plated a run on a wild pitch and another on an
infield single to walk off with a 3-2 win. Catcher Doug Hogan hit a
hooking liner that fell into the right field corner for a triple,
and he scored when a payoff pitch to Alex Burg got away from
Monaghan. Chalk hit his third single of the contest the opposite
way, as the ball got past a sliding Grantham at short and into
shallow left field. Kemp fielded and came up firing, but Addison
Johnson beat the throw and scored the game-winner.
St. John's is back in action at noon on Saturday, taking on the
loser of Coastal Carolina vs. VCU. ESPNU continues its coverage of
the Myrtle Beach Regional, with Kyle Peterson and Clay Matvick
calling the action. ESPNU can be found on DirecTV channel 609 or by
calling your local cable provider.