Tigers explode for 23 runs against Furman

By Will Vandervort.

It’s not often a team trails by 10 runs in a game and wins it by eight runs. But that is exactly what happened in Clemson’s 23-15 victory over Furman on Tuesday at Greenville’s Fluor Field.

After falling behind 10-0 through the first two innings, the Tigers rallied to score three runs in the third, two in the fourth and fifth innings and four in the sixth to tie the game before putting an eight-spot on the scoreboard in the seventh inning to put the game away.

Chris Okey, who now has 12 home runs and 53 RBIs this season, led the way at the plate with two home runs and a career-high five RBIs, while Reed Rohlman had two hits and four RBIs. Tyler Krieger had four hits and three RBIs for Clemson.

Clemson’s Steven Duggar, Krieger, Reed Rohlman and Okey combined to drive in 14 of the Tigers’ 23 runs off 10 hits. Clemson’s 23 runs on the Paladins marked the most it has scored in one game since beating Wake Forest 26-1  The Tigers recorded a season high 20 RBIs and also had a season 22 hits.

Clemson has outscored Furman 96-32 since 2012, a span of 10 games. The Tigers (28-25) are now 9-0 against Furman at Fluor Field and have won 13 straight dating back to 2009.

Okey brought Clemson all the way back from the 10-0 deficit with two home runs in the third and the sixth innings. His three-run homer in the third inning got the Tigers on the scoreboard and then his solo home run to lead off the sixth inning started a four-run inning that allowed Clemson to tie the game at 11.

The second home run shot over the Green Monster in leftfield, which changed the momentum of the game,

Clemson scored three runs in the third, two in the fourth and fifth innings and then got the four spot in the sixth inning. In the fourth, freshman Reed Rohlman doubled to left centerfield to plate two runs, while Krieger drove in two runs with a two-out single to centerfield in the fifth.

Following Okey’s solo home run to start the sixth inning the Tigers loaded the base with two outs and then Krieger hit into a fielder’s choice that Jordan Simpson threw too high to shortstop Sims Griffith. That scored Slaton to bring the Tigers within one run, and then Rohlman drove in the tying run in the next at-bat when he drew a walk. That made the score 11-11.

After Furman grabbed the lead back with one run in bottom of the sixth inning, Clemson exploded for eight runs on eight hits in the seventh inning to grab control. Clemson did not take its first lead until Eli White chopped a ball over the third baseman’s outstretched arm to score Glenn Batson from third.

Duggar then tripled to left center field to score two more runs and the Tigers were in firm control of the game at that point.

Clemson will head to Florida State on Thursday for Game 1 of a three-game series. Thursday’s game will be a 6 p.m. start.