April 24, 2002
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Kyle Frank drove in three runs Wednesday night and Matt Henrie combined with Patrick Hogan to scatter eight hits as number one ranked Clemson defeated fifth ranked South Carolina 4-1.
Henrie improved his record to 9-1 and Hogan picked up his second save. Steven Bondurant, 5-2, was charged with the loss. The victory improved Clemson’s season record to 36-5 and South Carolina fell to 31-10.
The announced crows of 6,811 was believed to be a Sarge Frye Field record.
A single by David Slevin, a walk, a sacrifice and a sacrifice fly by Frank staked Clemson to a 1-0 lead in the third inning. The Tigers made it 3-0 in the fifth when Frank’s double drove in Slevin and Roberto Valiente who had singled.
South Carolina, which left single runners on base in five of the first six innings, scored its only run in the seventh inning to cut the lead to 3-1. Singles by Justin Harris and Kevin Melillo and a two out base hit by Drew Meyer drove in the Gamecock run.
Clemson scored its final run on a bizarre double play in the eighth inning. The Tigers loaded the bases with no outs on a single by Frank, his third hit of the game, a double by Khalil Greene and an intentional walk to Michael Johnson.
Jarrod Schmidt dumped a fly ball into center field that Justin Harris trapped on the short hop. Frank scored but Greene and Johnson, thinking the ball had been caught on the fly, held their bases. Harris threw to second baseman Kevin Melillo who threw to shortstop Meyer. He tagged Greene for a force play and then tagged Johnson for the second force out on the play. The play was ruled a fielder’s choice double play.
Each team collected eight hits with Frank and Greene contributing doubles. Frank had three of Clemson’s eight hits and Slevin had two. Melillo was the only Gamecock with two hits. Garris Gonce had a double.
Henrie worked seven innings, allowed six hits, one run, walked one and struck out seven. Hogan gave up two hits in two innings with no walks or strikeouts.
News media selected the most valuable players for each team in the four game series. The awards are named for the former sports information directors at the two schools. The Bob Bradley Award went to Clemson first baseman Johnson and the Tom Price Award to South Carolina first baseman Yaron Peters.
Although hitless in Wednesday’s game Johnson had five hits, including four home runs, and drove in seven runs in the first three games. Peters had six hits in the series, including one for four Wednesday. His hits included two homers and he drove in four runs.
CLEMSON 001 020 010 - 4-8-2SOUTH CAROLINA 000 000 100 - 1-8-0
Henrie, Hogan (8) and Mahoney. Bondurant, Spigner (6), Rawl (8) and Powell. W-Henrie (9-1). L-Bondurant (5-2). Save-Hogan (2). 2B-CU, Frank, Greene, USC, Gonce.
