Jason Fultz’s first career homer, a three-run shot in the top of the eighth, helped push Clemson past Santa Clara 6-4 at Stephen Schott Stadium on Monday night. The Tigers finish their west coast swing with a 3-1 record and have now won four of their last six games.
Fultz finished the night 2-for-3 with a walk and three runs driven in. Tyler Lichtenberger went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.
Dane Moehler and Talan Bell combined to hold the Broncos scoreless over the first five innings, while Joe Allen threw 1.1 innings of scoreless relief late to pick up the win (3-0). Justin LeGuernic pitched the final two innings, striking out two, to pick up his third save of the season.
After Nate Savoie doubled into right with one out in the top of the first, Jacob Jarrell drove him home with a two-out single into left, giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth, Lichtenberger doubled to lead things off. After a sacrifice bunt by Jay Dillard and a walk by Fultz, runners were on the corners with one out. Jackson Moore’s sacrifice fly made it 2-0.
The Broncos were able to take the lead in the sixth. After Eston Simpson came on in relief, he was only able to get one out. The first hitter of the inning singled into center. A fielder’s choice moved him to second. Johnny Luetzow followed with an RBI double, then Will Anderson singled, pushing across Luetzow, tying the score at 2-2.
After getting a pop-up for the second out, Simpson was replaced by Ariston Veasey, who could not find the zone. He walked two hitters to load the bases, then went 3-0 on the next batter. Joe Allen came in out of the pen, and his first pitch was ball four, forcing in a run and giving Santa Clara its first lead. Allen got the next hitter to ground out, escaping any further damage.
Luke Gaffney started the eighth being hit by a pitch. After Jarrell flied out, Lichtenberger singled, putting runners at first and second with one out. Erik Bakich then sent Briggs Sullivan in to run for Gaffney, trying to get more speed on the bases. After Jay Dillard struck out, Fultz would launch a three-run shot out to deep left, putting the Tigers back out in front 5-3.
Jackson Moore followed with a single. He then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. A single by Bryce Clavon would score Moore, pushing the lead out to 6-3.
Santa Clara got a sac fly from Payton Lambert in the bottom half of the inning to make it 6-4.
Up Next
Clemson (22-12) returns home this weekend to host a Top 10 North Carolina team in another crucial ACC series. Game one is on Friday, with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. The game will be streamed on ACCNX.