Clemson scored 10 runs in the middle innings to pull away from Winthrop in a 13-3 victory over the Eagles in midweek play Tuesday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
The Tigers (18-2 overall), ranked third in this week’s Baseball America Top 25 rankings and fifth in the USA TODAY Sports coaches poll, went to work early at the plate and took advantage of several Winthrop miscues throughout the game.
Clemson struck first when Will Taylor singled to center with the bases loaded for a 2-0 Tigers lead off Winthrop pitcher Shane Keup (0-1). An inning later, Blake Wright plated a run when he was awarded an RBI single on a groundball that shortstop Abe Affholter couldn’t field cleanly.
After Winthrop (8-11) plated two runs in top of the fourth, Clemson’s bats went to work in the bottom of the inning. Wright singled back up the middle to give the Tigers a 4-2 lead.
One out later, Tristan Bissetta singled through the left side to score Alden Mathes and extend the lead to 5-2. Taylor’s third RBI of the day followed Bissetta, and Jacob Hinderleider hit an RBI sac fly to center to up the lead to 7-2.
Clemson hung another crooked number on the scoreboard in the fifth by scoring six runs thanks in large part to six walks issued by Eagles relievers Lance Wade and Walker Brodt.
The only run-scoring hit of the inning was an RBI single from Wright, who picked up his fourth hit of the afternoon to push the lead to 8-2. Wade walked three straight batters — Jimmy Obertop, Taylor and Hinderleider — all with the bases loaded, and it was 11-2.
After an RBI sac fly by Jacob Jarrell made it 12-2, Cooper Blauser drew the Tigers’ fourth bases-loaded walk of the inning, which finally came to a close when Nathan Hall grounded into a force play at third.
Wright went 4-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs and increased his batting average to .337. Taylor (2-for-3) finished with four RBIs as the Tigers totaled 10 hits in the game.
On the mound, right-hander Billy Barlow made his fifth start and received a no-decision after allowing both Winthrop runs in the fourth inning. Barlow exited after 3 1/3 innings, yielding four hits. He struck out two and walked one.
Matthew Marchal (4-0) earned the win in relief, throwing 1 2/3 innings of scoreless ball.
Four Tigers pitchers made their season debuts in Tuesday’s game. Sophomore Nathan Dvorsky and freshmen Jacob McGovern, Chance Fitzgerald and Luke Brown all pitched one inning apiece in relief. Brown recorded the final three outs.
Clemson returns to the diamond Wednesday in a scheduled 6 p.m. contest against Presbyterian in Greenville.