After a weather delay that pushed the first pitch back two hours, Clemson won its first game of the season on Saturday with a 6-2  victory over Wright State.

Clemson head coach Monte Lee was pleased with his team’s performance and thought they did well in all aspects of Saturday’s game. After the game the media spoke with Lee, Seth Beer and Pat Krall.

Here is what we heard:

“Well I thought we played a really good ball game today in all areas,” Lee said. “You look at our offense, one of our goals is to score as many runs as hits. We had six hits, scored six runs, and it just shows the quality of the at-bats that we had today. We had seven walks, had a hit-by-pitch and we had more freebies than we had strikeouts. So between our walks, hit-by-pitch and stolen base, we got on base an awful lot for only having six hits. That’s the sign of good things to come.”

Lee was also satisfied with the way Saturday’s pitchers, which consisted of Pat Krall, Brooks Crawford, and Ryley Gilliam, performed on the mound for the Tigers.

“What about our pitching staff today? Only three walks, 11 strikeouts, no earned runs,” he said. “I thought Pat Krall was phenomenal. I thought Brooks Crawford came in and threw the ball really, really well. Then Ryley Gilliam gives off the lead-off single, gets a 4-6-3 (double play) right after that and struck out his last four guys. I thought he was dominant so it was great to see Ryley Gilliam throw so well out of the bullpen.”

Krall pitched six complete innings, giving up only two hits and striking out six batters. Crawford came in for the seventh inning, gave up one hit and struck out one. Gilliam pitched the eighth and ninth innings, gave up one hit and struck out four.

Krall got the very first batter of the game, Matt Morrow to pop up for the first out.

“It was definitely good to get back out there and put the Clemson uniform on and finally pitch again,” Krall said after the game. “It’s been a while. Just that first pitch when he popped it up kind of settled me in. I wasn’t expecting him to go first pitch. Just to get that first out, out of the way kind of settled me down.”

The senior pitcher is also extremely pleased with the defense he has behind him and takes comfort in knowing that they have his back.

“We’ve got a whole new infield. I think they played unbelievable,” he said. “They’re really calm, make the good plays. Seth, I think he’s done really well at first base making that adjustment. He’s leaps and bounds better than where he started and he’s worked really hard for it.  It’s just good to know there’s a defense behind you that will pick you up when you make a bad pitch.”

Seth Beer certainly did his part offensively going 1-for-3 with a three run home run to dead center field. He also drew two walks and scored twice. When asked about his home run Beer said,

“It was just something I was being selective coming up with runners on base,” he said. “I think it kind of led from the strikeout yesterday (Friday). Kind of stressing too much about trying to do too much. I went up there a little bit more relaxed, a little more confident. And being in a situation like that before and I just picked out a good pitch to hit and I got one.”

The series between the Clemson Tigers and the Wright State Raiders is now tied at one a piece and the third game of the series will be played today at Doug Kingsmore Stadium beginning at 1 p.m..

We are now taking orders for our limited edition magazine Mission Accomplished. Remember Clemson’s championship season with this great magazine from the staff that covers Clemson football 365 days a year. Order your’s today to make sure you get a copy!