No. 1 Clemson beats rival S. Carolina

By

Posted 7:04AM on Thursday, April 25, 2002

COLUMBIA, S.C. - In a rivalry that usually produces towering homers and countless hits, the final regular-season game between Clemson and South Carolina offered something a little different. Matt Henrie (9-1) allowed just one run in seven innings while striking out seven, leading the top-ranked Tigers to a 4-1 win over the Gamecocks on Wednesday night. ``It was a strange night, the balls were getting knocked down a little bit,'' South Carolina coach Ray Tanner said. The four-game series, which Clemson (36-5) won 3-1, has offered 56 runs, 13 homers and 83 hits. Kyle Frank's two-RBI double in the fifth inning proved to be the offensive difference. Frank was 3-for-3 with three RBIs and Henrie kept the Gamecocks quiet. ``I felt really good out there and confident,'' Henrie said. ``All my pitches were working and I kept them off balance.'' The Gamecocks (31-10) had chances to score, but left nine runners on base. ``Henrie, when he got into a little bit of trouble, he was able to make a pitch and get out of it,'' Tanner said. Henrie said his breaking ball was working for him and Clemson coach Jack Leggett agreed. ``He had a great pace going tonight, didn't walk many people ... and he threw his breaking ball real well tonight when he was ahead in the count,'' Leggett said. The Gamecocks managed a run in the bottom of the seventh. Justin Harris singled off Chris Spigner then scored after two more base hits by Kevin Melillo and Drew Meyer. But the rally ended when Steve Thomas lined out to Khalil Greene with two left on base. Before the seventh, Henrie had given up just three hits. Clemson got its final run in a bizarre play in the top of the eight with the bases loaded. The Tigers scored a run on what appeared to be a sacrifice fly by Jarrod Schmidt. It looked like Gamecock center fielder Justin Harris made the out, but the umpire ruled he trapped the ball. The Gamecocks were able to convert a double play as the Clemson runners also thought Frank had made the out. The run still counted, but Schmidt didn't get the RBI because the double play was ruled a fielder's choice. ``When we play, we have a lot of difference things that happen,'' Tanner said. ``That was a strange play in baseball.'' Starter Steven Bondurant (5-2) allowed three earned runs on five hits in five innings for the loss. He struck out five. Jeff Baker, one of Clemson's top run producers with 16 homers and 56 RBIs was left out of the starting lineup with an injury, but it didn't seem to matter. He pinched hit in the ninth but struck out. South Carolina's pitchers combined for 11 strikeouts, but only one Gamecock had more than one hit. ``It wasn't enough tonight because Matt Henrie was outstanding,'' Tanner said. The Tigers got a run in the third after Slevin singled then scored after a walk and two sacrifices. South Carolina got out of the inning when Landon Powell picked off Collin Mahoney at second.