With two outs and nobody on in the bottom of the ninth inning and down three runs, things definitely looked bleak for 12th-ranked Clemson in its season opener with William & Mary.
However, Clemson found a way to win the game and in the process snapped a four-game losing streak in season openers with a 5-4 victory in 10 innings Friday at Doug Kingsmore in Clemson.
“I’m just proud of our guys,” Clemson head coach Monte Lee said. “I know that we have struggled a little bit on opening day around here the last few years, but our guys never wavered. We remained calm in the dugout, even when we were down a few runs.”
Chris Williams singled through the left side with the bases load in the bottom of the 10th inning to bring freshman Bryce Teodosio home with the game-winning run.
It was Clemson’s first win on opening day under Lee, who is now in his third year in Tigertown. It was also the Tigers’ first win on opening day for seniors Robert Jolly, Williams and the rest of the senior class.
“What an experience,” Jolly said afterward. “It was my first opening day start. It was my first opening day win in my career and it was a dream come true.
“It was just so much fun and these guys fight so hard. They deserve everything they got.”
After William & Mary added on another run in the top of the seventh inning the Tigers went into the ninth inning down 4-1 and looked like they were going to lose when Drew Wharton grounded into a double play.
With two outs, Seth Beer was hit by a pitch and Williams doubled down the left field line to put runners at second and third. Jolly got a two-out single that dropped in left field to score Beer and Williams, cutting the lead to 4-3.
Clemson then loaded the bases with an intentional walk to Grayson Byrd and a drawn walk from Kyle Wilkie. Sam Hall, running for Jolly, came home on a wild pitch from Tribe pitcher Wade Strain on a 2-2 count, to tie the game at 4.
“That is just part of the culture,” Williams said. “Coming back late in games is nothing new to us. I know throughout the whole game we were very even keel and very calm. No one was panicking.
“Everyone knew our history with opening day, but no one panicked. We all knew it just took one guy to get on base, move someone over and get a couple of hits together and that is exactly what happened today.”
Ironically, the Tigers last win on opening day came against William & Mary in 2013.
Clemson is now 6-1 all-time against William & Mary.
The Tribe went up 3-0 in the top of the fifth inning when Ryan Hall hit a three-run shot down the left field line. The home run came after teammates Owen Socher and Zach Pearson got on with a single and a double earlier in the inning.
The Tigers rallied in the bottom of the sixth inning for their first run of the season when Wharton flew out to left field to score freshman Bryce Teodosio from third base.
Teodosio singled to left field to lead off the inning and then moved to third when Logan Davidson singled through the left side. However, Davidson was caught stealing a few moments later and then Wharton flew to left to bring home Teodosio for the Tigers’ first run of the year.
Hennessy, in his first career start, gave up three runs on six hits in 4.2 innings. He has six strikeouts and no walks.
Ryan Miller came on in relief and went three innings and gave up one run on two hits. Ryley Gilliam was credit with the win after he came on in the 10th and retired the side with three strikeouts and a flyout to left field.
After giving up a first inning hit to Beer, Tribe pitcher Bodie Sheehan was lights out, giving up just one run off three hits in seven innings of work. He had four strikeouts and just one walk.
Clemson and William & Mary will play Game 2 on Saturday at 2 p.m., weather permitting.