June 1, 2009

#14 Tigers Rally For 6-5 Win Over Oklahoma State to Claim Clemson Regional Title Monday

Kyle Parker didn't get mad or pout when he was sent to the bench for the two most important games of Clemson's season. Mired in a slump, the former cleanup hitter, tried to stay focused and prepared.

Parker got his opportunity and made the most of it, lacing a two-run single into left field in the eighth inning to lift the Tigers to a 6-5 victory over Oklahoma State in the deciding game of the Clemson Regional.

Senior Matt Vaughn (4-1) pitched the final 3 2/3 innings for the Tigers, who rallied from a 5-1 deficit going into the bottom of the seventh.

Parker, a starter all season until Sunday night's first game against Oklahoma State, was the first hitter faced by OSU closer Randy McCurry, who replaced tiring starter Tyler Lyons (7-6). Parker had come into the game as a pinch-hitter the previous inning and popped out.

But he drilled a high curveball from McCurry, allowing Ben Paulsen and John Nester to score.

Clemson, which scored all six of its runs with two outs, started its comeback with the help of an error in the seventh. Chris Epps followed with a two-run homer that cut the margin to 5-3. The Tigers added another run in the inning on Jeff Schaus' single.

With two outs in the eighth, Nester doubled into the gap in left-center, putting runner on second and third. The Cowboys brought in McCurry, a freshman righthander, setting up Parker's game-winning hit.

Southern Miss Downs Tech, 12-8, to Win NCAA Atlanta Regional

Freshman B.A. Vollmuth belted two home runs in a nine-run second inning for Southern Miss, and the Golden Eagles defeated Georgia Tech, 12-8, Monday night to capture the championship of the NCAA Atlanta Regional baseball tournament at Russ Chandler Stadium.

Trailing 3-0 after the first inning, Vollmuth hit two home runs in Southern Miss's decisive second inning, his first career multi-home run game. A freshman who became the regular shortstop in late April, he hit a two-run shot his first time up and a three-run blast on his second at-bat, giving him three for the tournament, all against Tech.

In between, the Golden Eagles loaded the bases on three singles, scored one on a hit batter and another on a bases loaded walk. An error on Tech third baseman Matt Skole with two out allowed two more runs to cross.

Meanwhile, Todd McInnis (9-4), Friday night's starter against Elon, relieved starter Scott Copeland after the first and shut down the Jackets for four innings, allowing only one hit. He struck out five batters and walked two.