Clemson, SC – North Carolina held off a late rally from the Tigers and defeated Clemson 8-7 Sunday afternoon at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Brody Koerner got the  start for Clemson and went 5.0 innings and gave up seven hits, five runs and five earned  runs.  Alex Schnell relieved Brody and went 1.2 innings but gave up a critical three run home run.  Bates, Van Horn and Schmidt closed out the game for the Tigers.

The Tigers jumped out to an early lead in the first.  Steven Duggar walked with one out.  With two away Reed Rohlman walked.  Chris Okey hit a bomb to left field for his fifth home run of the year.  Clemson led 3-0 after one.

In the bottom of the second the Tigers plated another run.  Andrew Cox singled to start the inning.  Weston Wilson went down on strikes.  Eli White reached on a fielder’s choice.  Tyler Slaton doubled off the right field wall to score White all the way from first and put the Tigers up 4-0.

North Carolina bounced right back with three runs in the third and tied the game with another in fourth.  Another run in the top of the fifth gave the Heels a 5-4 lead.

In the seventh Alex Schnell gave up a three-run home run and the North Carolina lead stretched to 8-4.

The Tigers cut into the lead in the seventh.  Andrew Cox singled up the middle.  Weston Wilson doubled down the line advancing Cox to third.  Eli White doubled to score Cox and Wilson.  The rally topped there as Slaton grounded to the pitcher, Duggar flied out and Krieger flied out.  After seven the Tiger trailed 8-6.

In the bottom of the eighth Reed Rohlman singled up the middle.  Okey and Pinder walked to load the bases.  Rohlman scored on a wild pitch before Cox walked.  Weston Wilson went down on strikes for the first out and then Eli White hit a grounder to third for double play to end the threat.

Steven Duggar walked with  one out in the ninth then stole second.  Tyler Krieger walked before Reed Rohlman went down on strikes.  Chris Okey ended the game with a strikeout.

Clemson fell to 16-15 on the season with the loss and 7-8 in the ACC.  The Tigers host Georgia Tuesday night.