CLEMSON, S.C. – The Presbyterian College baseball team received solid pitching and strong defense on Tuesday in its non-conference game at No. 11 Clemson, but the Blue Hose could not topple the Tigers at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, 4-2.
PC moves to 4-3-1 and begins a weekend series at Auburn on Friday at 7 p.m. Eastern time. Clemson improves to 6-1.
Brian Kehner (Marietta, Ga.) made his second start of the year and took the loss despite a solid outing. The freshman lefthander went 6.1 innings, giving up eight hits and four runs—all earned—with four strikeouts and two walks.
The Blue Hose committed zero errors for the fifth time this season. Nathan Chong (Duluth, Ga.), Billy Motroni (Goose Creek, S.C.) and Brad Zebedis (Rock Hill, S.C.) each picked up a hit in the effort. Zebedis extended his hitting streak to six games with a first-inning single.
PC loaded the bases with its first three batters of the game. Leadoff man Brandon Martin (Gray Court, S.C.) took a pitch off the right shoulder before Jay Lizanich (Greer, S.C.) took a strike and four straight balls to walk. Zebedis then went inside-out to bloop a single to shallow right field.
Brandon Paul (Augusta, Ga.) hit into a double play but Martin scored during the putouts to give PC an early lead, 1-0.
The first two Tigers reached in the bottom of the first, but Kehner induced a pop out and picked off the man on second for two outs. Steven Duggar eventually cashed in with a triple to left field, giving the Tigers the lead. A Steve Wilkerson bunt single made it 3-1 Clemson after the first inning.
PC scored again in the second, using a perfectly executed squeeze bunt from Derek Long (Alpharetta, Ga.) to plate Jacob Midkiff (Rock Hill, S.C.). The score cut Clemson's lead in half, 3-2.
After Clemson's initial outburst, Kehner controlled the Tigers through the next few innings. The freshman struck out the side in the third, getting Clemson swinging-looking-swinging to keep PC within a run. He started the fourth inning by getting Steve Wilkerson to look at strike three as well.
Clemson loaded the bases in the fifth with one out and Chris Okey converted with an RBI on a fielder's choice. Facing two outs, Kehner threw to first on a pickoff attempt and the Blue Hose caught another runner at home to save a run and get out of the inning down by two, 4-2.
PC put a runner in scoring position in the sixth but could not cash in and came no closer as Clemson held on for the 4-2 win.
Paul Sanders (St. Simons Island, Ga.) pitched 1.2 innings of perfect relief after Kehner exited in the sixth, inducing four pop flies.
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Presbyterian College 110 000 000 - 2 3 0 (4-3-1)
Clemson............. 300 010 00X - 4 8 0 (6-1)
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Pitchers: Presbyterian College - KEHNER, Brian; SANDERS, Paul(7) and LONG, Derek. Clemson - Zack Erwin; Clate Schmidt(2); Clay Bates(7); Patrick Andrews(8); Matt Campbell(9) and Chris Okey.
Win-Clate Schmidt(1-1) Save-Matt Campbell(1) Loss-KEHNER, Brian(0-2) T-2:08 A-3759
Weather: 68 degrees, slight breeze W
