Tigers top Hokies

Clemson 13, Virginia Tech 5

CLEMSON — Not much comes easy for Clemson these days — not even beating Virginia Tech.

Yet with their postseason margin of error shrinking, the Tigers aren't going to quibble with the manner by which they win. As long as they win.

Up 8-0 after five innings, Clemson wasn't able to enjoy a totally sweat-free conclusion against the ACC's last-place team. The Tigers pulled away and won 13-5 after the Hokies cut the margin to three runs in the seventh.

"It's kind of like, 'What can go wrong now?' " said sophomore outfielder Wilson Boyd, referring to Virginia Tech's comeback.

Almost everything went right for the Tigers after the Hokies trimmed the margin to 8-5. Clemson scored five runs in the seventh and eighth, and Virginia Tech didn't muster a hit in the eighth and ninth.

After failing to register double-figure run totals in 23 consecutive games, the Tigers have scored 25 in their past two games. They have totaled 68 hits in their past six games after compiling 66 over a record 11-game losing streak.

"We're playing pretty confident," said freshman designated hitter Kyle Parker, who had a three-run homer in the eighth to dispense the remaining suspense. "Our mindset at the plate is a little more aggressive, and you can kind of tell we're turning a corner."

Clemson knows it needs to turn a corner fast. At seventh in the standings, the Tigers (22-20-1) must finish in the top eight to earn a trip to the ACC Tournament. The Tigers are also clinging to hope of reaching the NCAA Tournament for the 22nd straight year, the third-longest streak in college baseball history.

Maryland beat Duke on Friday to improve to 8-14 in the conference. Wake Forest fell to Georgia Tech and dropped to 7-14.

"You don't have to be very smart to figure out where we are and what we've got to do," said coach Jack Leggett, whose team has series remaining against Florida State (home) and Georgia Tech (away).

Seemingly out of it entering the sixth in the 8-0 hole, Virginia Tech (18-24, 4-18) reeled off four runs in that frame and another in the seventh to make the score 8-5. But the Tigers got through it courtesy of gritty pitching, some big hits and some Hokies errors.

With two outs in the seventh, Stan Widmann hit an RBI single to left to give the Tigers breathing room at 9-5. Former Summerville High standout Matt Vaughn came on in the eighth and, with runners at first and second, struck out Tony Balisteri for the third out.

An inning earlier, Casey Harman pulled himself together with one out and runners at first and third. He struck out Anthony Sosnoskie and induced a flyout by Klint Reed.

Virginia Tech entered this game with 70 errors, most in the ACC. The Hokies padded that total with four Friday.

Four of Clemson's runs were unearned — including two in the first inning, which saw the Tigers sprint to a 4-0 lead thanks in part to a three-run homer by Boyd.

"We're going out swinging it and not really pressing," said Boyd, whose last homer was Feb. 29. "Results have come from being able to be relaxed and not be in pressure situations."

The two teams are scheduled to play again tonight at 7, though the threat of inclement weather could alter the schedule. Junior lefty Ryan Hinson will take the mound for the Tigers.

Reach Larry Williams at lwilliams@postandcourier.com and check out the new Clemson blog at www.charleston.net/blogs/tiger_tracks/>