May 24, 2006

Box Score | Quotes | Tournament Central

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Clemson outfielder D.J. Mitchell drove in three runs with a pair of hits to support the strong pitching performance of P.J. Zocchi as the Tigers routed Wake Forest 13-1 in the final first round game of the Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Tournament at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.

Clemson scored four times in the second inning, added two runs in the fourth, cemented the win with five runs in the fifth inning and finished with a pair of runs in the sixth inning. The game was halted after 6½ innings due to the tournament's 10-run advantage rule in the seventh inning or later.

Clemson (44-13) ran its winning streak to 16 consecutive games and posted its 16th win in a row over Wake Forest dating back to 2002.

Marquez Smith and Taylor Harbin paced the Tigers' 13-hit attack with three hits apiece while three other Clemson players - Brad Chalk, Tyler Colvin, and Mitchell - all had two hits. Harbin and Chalk had Clemson's only extra base hits with both players getting a double and a triple.

Zocchi got the starting call for Clemson despite having started just six times this season, compiling a 5-0 mark and 3.06 ERA. He went six innings in his first ACC Tournament start, allowing four hits and the one run.

Wake Forest (33-21) scored its only run on freshman first baseman Allan Dykstra's 15th home run of the season, including his first since April 15. The home run was the first one allowed by a Clemson pitcher in the last 13 games.

Clemson moves into Thursday's winners' bracket where the Tigers will meet Georgia Tech. Wake Forest takes on Miami with the loser of that game eliminated from the tournament.