The Boston College Series

It was tough weekend for the Tigers at Doug Kingsmore. Boston College used some timely hitting and miscues by the Tigers to take two of three (4-6, 6-7, 16-2) games. Going into the final contest, the Tigers had yet to put a full game together this season. In Friday's contest, Clemson was cruising along with a 3-2 lead going into the top of the seventh. Ryan Hinson was having his best outing of the year and then let a throwing error by third baseman John Hinson, allowing Ryan Akel to reach first with one out, get to him. Ryan got the next batter, Barry Butera, to fly out to right. It was then the wheels fell off. He was ahead of Matt Hamlet 1 and 2 when the Eagles decided to play hit and run. Hamlet delivered at double that scored Hamlet from first and tied the game at 3. Pitching coach Kyle Bunn made a trip to the mound to talk things over with Ryan and settle him down. The very next pitch was taken over the right field wall by Tony Sanchez and all of a sudden it was 5-3 Boston College. Kurt Hayer then came on for the Eagles and threw three innings of two hit ball in a 6-4 BC victory.

Saturday's game was basically decided on one play. The Tiger put two runs on the board in the first and one in the second for a 3-0 lead. Boston College put two on the board in the fourth, but still the Tigers led 3-2 going to the eighth. Eric Campbell roped a one out double to left center and Ryan Akel came on to pitch hit. He lifted a drive to left center and Wilson Boyd seemed to have tracked it down going up the terrace and seemingly making the catch just before hitting the wall, but the ball bounced off the heel of his glove for an error. Campbell scored from second and Akel ended up at second and we were tied at three. Clemson closer Matt Vaughn then came on and gave up an RBI single to Michael Belfiore for a 4-3 BC lead. In the top of the ninth, the Eagles scored three more runs against Vaughn and the Tigers were in a four run hole. To the Tigers credit they put three runs on the board in the bottom of the ninth and had the tying run at third when Ben Paulsen struck out to end the game. Final score in game two, Boston College 7 and Clemson 6.

Now I am not blaming any of the kids for the loses, what I am trying to do is show how just one or two plays can change a game. Having such a young club, Jack Leggett has not wanted to give his team the riot act, but prior to Sunday's game he did challenge them and the kids responded with their best effort of the season. Clemson put seven runs on the board in the bottom of the first and never looked back in a 16-2 win. Graham Stoneburner was outstanding allowing just three hits and one run over six innings. Oh by the way, he also struck out eight. The Tigers now stand 10-6 on the year, 2-4 in the ACC with a big week ahead. A very good Coastal Carolina team comes to DKS on Tuesday and then Furman, a team that has beaten Clemson each of the past two seasons, will be in town on Wednesday. Friday, Saturday and Sunday feature home league games with the Wolfpack of NC State.

Patience will be a virtue with this year's squad. Remember 2005 when Clemson reached the mid point of the season with a 15-13 record and then were just one game away from the College World Series?

Other notes:

The return of Addison Johnson may come against NC State. I say maybe because the ligament on the outside of his right wrist is still hurting. The staff wants to make sure the injury is completely healed before letting him take hacks at the plate. If he were to come back to quickly and then injure the wrist further, it could mean he would be lost for the season. Don't be surprised if you see him throwing in the bullpen. He pitched fairly well in the fall and has not been ruled out from seeing the mound this season.

Wilson Boyd is tearing the cover off the ball right now. He went five for six in Sunday's game with BC and is carrying a 14 game hitting streak.

Jeff Schaus is beginning to get his stroke down at the plate. Jack has been very high on the young freshman from Naples, Florida since signing with the Tigers and we are beginning to see why.

Two freshman are throwing very well out of the pen. Casey Harmon and Craig Gullickson look like they will be valuable pieces of the puzzle.

It was good to see William Bond on the hill Sunday. The red shirt junior made five appearances last season and the Tigers were 5-0 in those contests. In 2006 he had Tommy John surgery and they say it is the second season after surgery that full arm strength comes back.