Tigers rally, but fall on walk-off HR

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Clemson rallied from a five-run deficit to take a one-run lead on Drew Wharton’s two-out, two-run single in the top of the inning, but Willie Abreu hit a two-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the inning as No. 4 Miami edged No. 12 Clemson, 9-8, at Mark Light Field on Friday night in Coral Gables, Fla.

The Hurricanes took a 1-0 lead in the three-game series.

Chris Okey’s fourth home run of the year in the first inning gave Clemson the early advantage, but the Hurricanes had six straight batters reach base with one out in the fourth inning and scored five runs on five hits and two costly Tiger errors.

Miami (18-4, 5-1 ACC) added two runs in the sixth inning to build a 7-2 lead.

Clemson (17-4, 5-2 ACC) clawed back with three runs in the seventh inning and Chase Pinder belted his sixth homer of the year in the eighth inning to narrow Miami’s lead to 7-6.

Seth Beer hit a one-out double in the top of the ninth inning to extend his hitting streak to 19 games, before Weston Wilson walked and stole second base. Wharton then grounded a two-out, two-run single through the left side to give the Tigers an 8-7 lead.

Johnny Ruiz led off Miami’s bottom of the ninth inning with a double, and two batters later, with one out, Abreu crushed an opposite-field, two-run home run to snap Clemson’s eight game-winning streak.

Bryan Garcia (2-0) earned the win despite allowing three runs on three hits in two innings of work.

Clemson’s Alex Bostic (3-1) suffered the loss. Alex Schnell kept the Tigers in the game with 2 2/3 scoreless innings of one-hit ball in relief.

The series continues Saturday at 7 p.m., on ESPN3.