By Will Vandervort

Clemson used an unusual play to help score two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, and then got back-to-back strikeouts with the bases loaded in the top of the ninth from pitcher Scott Firth to beat Maryland, 3-2, in Game 1 of a day-night doubleheader at Doug Kingsmore Stadium Monday.

“It was a big win for us,” Clemson head coach Jack Leggett said.

After Maryland (28-22, 9-17 ACC) tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the sixth inning, the Tigers rallied to score in the bottom frame, which turned out to be the difference in the game.  Centerfielder Thomas Brittle led off the inning with a drawn walk, and with one out, following a Maleeke Gibson pop up to the pitcher, Steve Wilkerson doubled through the right side to score Brittle all the way from first.

But the play was not what you would call a typical double. Clemson’ second baseman smacked the ball in front of the plate, causing it to take a high bounce, which went over the head of Terps’ first baseman, LaMonte Wade. If Wade, who stands at 6-foot-1, had been an inch taller he might have made the play, but instead the ball got over, and then kicked back toward the Clemson dugout where it rolled dead near the fence.

Leggett had a hit-and-run called on the play and Wilkerson’s unusual hit came at the right time as the Tigers (31-15, 16-10) took a 2-1 lead.

“It was a good hit-and-run on a ball that just barley made it out to the outfield. It was nice,” said pitcher Zack Erwin, who improved to 4-0 with the win.

Wilkerson ultimately scored the game-winning run a few moments later when Garrett Boulware sacrificed him home with a fly out to right field.

“You just have to put the ball in play on the ground, and he just happened (to hit it) in the right spot,” Leggett said. “That has happened to us a lot this year, where people have had a hit-and-run, and it happened to find the hole.

“Good things happen when you put the ball in play on the ground…  It was a big play for us. It got a high hop at the front of the plate area and was just out of his reach.”

The Terrapins were able to draw within one run in the top of the eighth inning with one run, and then had the bases load in the top of the ninth inning with one out. But Firth, who picked up his fourth save of the season, got out of the jam by striking out the side to end the game. But it did not come without a little luck.

On a 1-1 pitch, pinch-hitter Greg Olenski laid down what looked like a perfect bunt down the first-base line on what looked like a well-executed-squeeze play. But the ball rolled foul by mere inches and then Firth blew a fastball by him on the next pitch to record the second out of the inning.

“It’s a chancy play all the time. It can break your back,” Leggett said. “We knew there was a possibility that it was coming. (Firth) threw a pretty good breaking ball which put a little bit of a spin on the ball and it just rolled foul.

“It is a game of inches and that is all it is to it.”

Firth got leadoff hitter Charlie White to strikeout looking to end the game.

In his first ACC start, Erwin went six innings, allowing only one run on five hits. Wilkerson had two hits to go with his RBI that scored Brittle, while first baseman Jon McGibbon had two hits and drove in a run as well.

The Tigers and Terps will play Game 2 of doubleheader at 7 p.m.