Freshman slugger Seth Beer hit a two-run home run off Boston College starting pitcher Mike King, and the Clemson pitching staff took the Tigers home as the host institution picked up a 6-2 victory in the series opener at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Friday night.
After Clemson took a 2-0 lead in the second inning, BC rallied to tie the game in the top of the third. In the bottom of the third, after King recorded a quick out to start the frame, however, the Tigers made quick work of the stalemate. Chris Okey singled to center to put a man on, and Beer homered down the left field line, giving the Tigers a 4-2 lead. As quick as they rallied, that's as quick as the Eagles got out of the inning, inducing a couple of ground balls to end the inning.
The Tigers opened up the scoring one inning prior. King hit Beer to open up the inning, and after he struck out Weston Wilson, Robert Jolly to right to put two on with one out. King nearly pitched out of the jam, striking out the next batter, but Andrew Cox and Adam Renwick both singled, scoring the two runners.
BC used the long ball to tie the game in the top of the third, receiving solo homers from Stephen Sauter and Gabe Hernandez. But after Jake Palomaki doubled to put the go-ahead runner on with one out, Joe Cronin and Michael Strem struck to end the inning.
The Eagles threatened in the fourth, loading the bases with one out. Nick Sciortino walked and moved to third on a single by Mitch Bigras, and after Bigras stole second, they had two in scoring position. Sauter then walked to load the bases, but Clate Schmidt struck his way out of the inning, K'ing Johnny Adams and Hernandez to end the inning.
Clemson added a two-run homer by Wilson in the fifth to round out the scoring.
Schmidt was incredible on the hill in picking up his fourth victory of the season. He threw seven innings, striking out 11, with only two walks and six hits. He turned the ball to Pat Krall, who struck out three with only one hit allowed in the last two innings.
Mike King (3-1) took his first loss of the season, striking out three and allowing eight hits. He was charged with all six earned runs. Thomas Lane came in for him and threw two innings, striking out two and walking one with one hit allowed, and Zach Stromberg pitched eighth, walking one and striking out one.
At the dish, Beer went 2-2 for Clemson with the two run homer and three runs scored, part of a monster day for the midyear high school graduate. Chris Okey went 2-4 with a run scored, and Weston Wilson had the two-run homer as his only hit.
As for the Eagles, Schmidt completely shut down the offense, holding Palomaki and Cronin to single hits while holding Strem and Casey to nothing on the day. Strem wore the sombrero, striking out three times.
The two teams will reconvene on Saturday at 4 PM when the Tigers host the Eagles in the second game of the three game set. The game will be televised on ESPN3 as part the ACC package of games.