WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Clemson rallied for eight runs in the top of the seventh inning for a 13-8 victory on Sunday to clinch the three-game series over Wake Forest.
Second baseman Weston Wilson went 4-for-4 with three RBIs, while Chris Okey was 3-for-6 with four RBIs to lead the 20th-ranked Tigers. It was Okey’s grand slam in the seventh that put the Tigers up for good in the come-from-behind victory, while Wilson’s two-run home run later in the inning, the Tigers’ third of the game, put the game away.
Clemson (11-3, 2-1 ACC) entered the seventh inning trailing the Demon Deacons, 8-4.
“We found a way to get some momentum. We got the leadoff guy on base and we strung some quality at bats together one right after another,” Clemson head coach Monte Lee said to The Clemson Insider after the game. “We had the popup with (Reed) Rohlman up and bases loaded one out. The thing that impressed me so much is Okey came up there and was patient. He got a pitch to hit and he hit a grand slam. That was huge for us.”
Wilson and shortstop Eli White walked to start the seventh, and then Robert Jolly followed with a single to left to score Wilson to cut the Wake lead to three. Adam Renwick was then hit by a pitch to load the bases and White later scored on a wild pitch to make the score 8-6.
With one out Chase Pinder walked to load the bases, again. After Reed Rohlman fouled out, Okey stepped up to the plate and hit his grand slam to left field to put Tigers up 10-8.
But Clemson was not done. Seth Beer, who hit a solo shot earlier in the game, singled to set up Wilson’s two-run homer to stretch the lead to 12-8. Beer’s four home runs in the three-game series is the most by a Clemson player in one series since Andy D’Alessio did the same against Duke in 2006.
The Tigers added a run in the eighth as Cox walked and later scored on a wild pitch.
It was a good thing the Clemson bats came through because for a third straight game, Tiger pitching was hit around by the Wake Forest lineup. For a second straight day, Lee had to go to the bullpen early.
Alex Eubanks got the start but only lasted two and a third, after allowing six runs on six hits. Alex Schnell relieved Eubanks and went two and a third as well innings giving up one run on two hits. Brooks Crawford came in and settled things down for Clemson during the two and two thirds innings, allowing just one run on two hits.
Crawford got the win, while Alex Bostic came on with one out in eighth inning to earn the save.
“We pitched extremely well today from the seventh inning on, especially with what Crawford did. Crawford was the difference maker for us today,” Lee said.
In the second inning, Beer homered for the fourth time in the series with a solo shot to give the Tigers a 1-0.Wilson followed with a single and Andrew Cox later doubled to center to score Wilson for a 2-0 lead.
Wake Forest (11-6, 1-2 ACC) bounced right back with four runs in the bottom of the second to take a 4-2 advantage.
Like they did all day, the Tigers fought back in the top of the third as Pinder walked to start the inning and Rohlman singled to right. Okey then singled to right to load the bases with no outs for Beer, who grounded out to first, scoring Pinder for his second RBI of the day. Wilson followed with a sac fly to score Rohlman, tying the game at four.
The Deacons regained the lead 6-4 with a two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning, and another solo home run in the fifth stretched Wake Forest’s lead to 7-4. Gavin Sheets hit his second home run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning to make it 8-4, setting the stage for Clemson’s dramatic comeback in the seventh inning.
The Tigers travel to Charleston for a two-game series with The Citadel on Tuesday and Wednesday.