May 12, 2002

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The University of Virginia baseball team dropped a 15-2 decision to the #1 ranked Clemson Tigers this afternoon at the UVa Baseball Stadium, home of Davenport Field. Virginia tied the game at 1-1 after two complete innings of play before Clemson erupted to score 14 of the next 15 runs in the game to record a 13-run victory. It was the Tigers' second consecutive victory with 15 runs scored after posting a 15-4 win over UVa on Friday in game one of the three-game series.

In the bottom of the first inning, Virginia's David Stone walked and then recorded his 24th stolen base of the season to become UVa's all-time leader in stolen bases in a single season, breaking Bill Narleski's former record mark of 23 in 1986.

After leaving the bases loaded in the top of the first inning without scoring a run, Clemson jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Jarrod Schmidt blasted a solo home run to left field to lead off the inning. But Virginia came right back in the bottom half of the inning and tied the game at 1-1 when Chris Sweet singled, stole second base and then scored a run in the Cavaliers' next at-bat on Scott Headd's RBI-single through the left side.

However, the Tigers flexed their muscles in the top of the third inning and took a 5-1 lead after back-to-back solo home runs by Khalil Greene and Jeff Baker before Schmidt blasted his second home run of the game to deep left field with a two-run shot to give the Tigers a four-run advantage. Clemson took an 8-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning when Russell Triplett started off the inning with a doubled and later scored a run on a balk before Greene (hit by pitch) and Michael Johnson (single) each scored a run. Greene scored his run on a RBI-single by Johnson before Johnson crossed the plate himself on David Slevins' RBI-double.

The Tigers added two more runs in the top of the sixth inning and took a 10-1 lead when Greene (single) and Baker (walk) each scored a run. Greene scored on a RBI-single by Schmidt before Baker scored on a wild pitch.

Virginia cut Clemson's lead to 10-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning when Robert Word connected on his second home run of the series (tenth of the season) with a solo shot to left field to pull the Cavaliers within eight runs of the Tigers. But Clemson got the run right back after scoring a run of its own in the top of the eighth inning when Zane Green connected with a RBI-single to right field to drive in Schmidt, making it an 11-2 contest.

The Tigers extended their lead to 15-2 in the top of the ninth inning when Baker hit his second home run of the game (a three-run shot to deep left field) to drive in Garrick Evans (hit by pitch) and Greene (single) before Slevin scored his second run of the game. Greene reached base after recording his third hit of the contest (a single to left field) to become the ACC's all-time leader with 367 career hits.

The Tigers' starting pitcher Matt Henrie (10-2) pitched an outstanding game after going seven strong innings and allowed just two runs on five hits with a career-high eight strikeouts. The Cavaliers' Joe Koshansky (2-5) took the loss after lasting four innings and surrendered eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits with two strikeouts.

With the loss, Virginia's record falls to 24-25 overall, 8-12 in the ACC. The win improves Clemson's record to 42-9 overall, 15-5 in the conference.

The Cavaliers and Tigers will return to action on Monday, May 13th to play the final game of the three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at the UVa Baseball Stadium, home of Davenport Field.

-- UVa --