Stanford plated four runs in the bottom of the eighth to overcome a three-run deficit as the Cardinal rallied to beat Clemson 5-4 on Saturday at Sunken Diamond in Palo Alto, knotting the weekend series at one game apiece.

Starter Michael Sharman went seven innings, allowing just one run on four hits with six strikeouts, and he did it with just 78 pitches, with 60 of those going for strikes. However, the bullpen could not hold it as Dion Brown and Justin LeGuernic combined to give up four runs in the eighth to relinquish the lead. LeGuernic was tagged with the loss (1-1), his first of the season.

Tyler Lichtenberger finished the afternoon 3-for-4 with a big two-run single in the seventh, while Luke Gaffney went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer in the eighth.

A solo shot from Teddy Tokheim to start the bottom of the third gave Stanford a 1-0 lead. It was Tokheim’s ninth homer of the season.

The Tigers (20-12, 3-8 ACC) finally got on the board in the seventh. After Jack Crighton doubled to start the frame, Gaffney grounded back to the pitcher, who tried to gun down Crighton at third, but the throw was not in time, putting runners on the corners. After a Jason Fultz strikeout, Ty Dalley walked to load the bases. Lichtenberger then singled into center, plating two runs and giving Clemson its first lead at 2-1.

JJ Moran led off the bottom of the inning with what looked like a game-tying home run out to left, but Crighton went way up over the wall to rob the Stanford third baseman of his sixth long ball of the season.

The Tigers got what looked like some insurance in the eighth. With Crighton on first with two outs, Gaffney hit a 412-foot home run out to left, pushing the lead out to 4-1. It was Gaffney’s third homer this season.

However, Sharman exited the game after the seventh, and Dion Brown came in out of the pen and gave up a leadoff double. After walking the next hitter, the Tigers turned to Justin LeGuernic, who then walked the first hitter he saw on four pitches. After a visit from Jimmy Belanger, Rintaro Susaki lofted a sacrifice fly into left. Tokheim followed with a double off the wall in left, driving in two and making it 4-3.

After going up 1-2 on the next hitter, LeGuernic would end up issuing a walk, loading the bases. A Moran single that beat the shift to drive in two more runs, putting Stanford back on top 5-4.

Lichtenberger doubled off the left-field wall in the top of the ninth. A bunt by Bruce Clavon moved Lichtenberger to third with just one out. Tryston McCladdie then struck out swinging and Nate Savoie flied out, stranding the tying run at third.

Better Defense

After having been plagued with defensive issues over the past few weeks, the Tigers made no errors in this one. The team has now just made one error over the past three games.

Struggling Again In Key Spots

While the Tigers did have four two-out hits, the team finished just 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and only 2-of-16 with runners on base.

Up Next

Stanford and Clemson will play the series finale on Sunday with first pitch at 4:05 p.m. The game will be streamed on ACCNX.