The Clemson Tigers used clutch two-out hitting for a 4-3 victory and a series sweep of the California Golden Bears in ACC baseball play Sunday at Stu Gordon Stadium in Berkeley.
The win was the Tigers' 30th of the season and their fifth in a row dating back to last Saturday's 4-3 victory to close out Georgia Tech in Atlanta. It was also their first series sweep in ACC play this season.
Clemson (30-5 overall, 9-3 conference), ranked as high as No. 4 by Perfect Game and No. 7 in the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, took its first lead in the fourth inning. With two out, pinch-hitter Tristan Bissetta crushed a 3-0 pitch over the wall in right-center for a no-doubt two-run homer for the Tigers' first runs of the afternoon and a 2-1 lead. It was Bissetta's third home run of the season.
Luke Gaffney singled home Cam Cannarella with two out an inning later to up the lead to 3-1. The Bears (16-15, 6-9) tied it in the sixth after a wild pitch from right-hander Drew Titsworth and an RBI single by Max Handron spoiled starter B.J. Bailey's chance at a victory. Bailey was charged three runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings.
The Tigers took the lead for good in the sixth when Jarren Purify was hit by a pitch leading off the inning and stole second. Purify took third on a groundout and scored on a sac fly from Gaffney -- his second RBI of the day and what turned out to be the Tigers' last run of the afternoon.
Clemson had a chance to break the game wide open in the ninth when they loaded the bases with no one out on a pair of walks sandwiched between a single from Purify. But right-hander Ethan Foley retired Gaffney on a double play, and Jacob Jarrell struck out looking for the third out. The Tigers stranded 11 runners on base Sunday.
Lucas Mahlstedt worked out of trouble in the home half of the ninth and stranded the potential tying and winning runs on base by getting Alex Birge to pop up to Andrew Ciufo at short for the final out. Birge had given California an early 1-0 lead in the first inning with a solo home run off Bailey.
Mahlstedt picked up his 11th save in 14 appearances and lowered his ERA to 1.01 in 26 2/3 innings this season. Clemson pitching combined to strand eight California runners on base. Right-hander Cole Tremain (4-2) suffered the loss for the Golden Bears.
California outhit the Tigers, 9-6. Bissetta (1-for-1) reached base three times ...
