CLEMSON — Following Saturday’s heartbreaking loss to No. 5 North Carolina in 14 innings, Clemson head coach Erik Bakich said his team’s back was against the wall and they needed to come out Sunday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium and do something about it.
Unfortunately for the Tigers, the only team that did something were the Tar Heels. UNC used a five-run fourth inning to beat Clemson 12-5 and claim a 2-1 series victory. The Tigers have yet to win an ACC series at home this season.
The Tar Heels (30-6-1, 13-5 ACC) tattooed Clemson for 16 hits, as eight different players got at least one hit. Owen Hull had five of their 16 hits and finished the afternoon 5-for-6 with 5 RBIs, including a three-run home run in the fourth inning that blew the game open.
Clemson pitching also allowed 14 free passes — 8 walks and 6 hit by pitch.
UNC also got two hits and two RBIs from Macon Winslow (2-for-5) and three hits from lead-off man Jake Schaffner (3-for-6). The Tar Heels got the leadoff man on base in every inning but the ninth.
Clemson (23-14, 5-10 ACC) got 10 hits in a losing effort. Bryce Clavon had a bases clearing triple in the sixth inning that brought two runs home, while Jason Fultz, Jr., (2-for-2) had an RBI double in the second inning. Luke Gaffney had an RBI double in the fifth inning for the Tigers.
Lichtenberger finished the day 2-for-4 at the plate, as well.
The difference in the game was the pitching, as Clemson used eight different players that threw eight walks and hit six batters. UNC used four pitchers.
UP NEXT
Clemson will play Charlotte on Tuesday night at 6:05 p.m., at Truist Field in Charlotte, N.C.
—photo courtesy of Clemson Athletic Communications