Baseball ACCtion: Sunday, March 30 :: Sunday wins give series to Clemson and Florida State; Virginia and Georgia Tech finish sweeps; weather shortens two series.

March 30, 2008

Tigers Take Series With 6-2 Win at Maryland Sunday

College Park, MD - Stan Widmann made his first-ever appearance off the bench a memorable one, as his eighth-inning sacrifice fly scored the go-ahead run in Clemson's 6-2 victory over Maryland in front of 347 fans at Shipley Field on Sunday. The Tigers, who won the series 2-1, improved to 18-8 overall and 6-6 in the ACC, while the Terrapins fell to 14-13 overall, 3-9 in ACC play.

Widmann, the Tigers' fourth-year junior shortstop who entered the day with 163 career starts, had never come off the bench. The Hurst, TX native was not in the starting lineup due to an injury, but as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning, he lined the first pitch he saw to right field to score Ben Paulsen before the Tigers added three insurance runs in the ninth inning.

Junior lefthander Ryan Hinson (2-3) pitched 7.0 strong innings, allowing six hits, two runs, and a career-high-tying eight strikeouts to earn the win. Casey Harman and Matt Vaughn both pitched perfect innings in relief to close out the game. Maryland reliever Tim Kearney (0-1) suffered the loss.

Florida State Edges Wake Forest 3-2 In 11 Innings

Winston-Salem, N.C. - What would a Florida State, Wake Forest series be without extra innings? For the third time in the last eight meetings, the Seminoles (23-3, 11-1) and Demon Deacons (12-13, 5-6) played bonus baseball and for the third time FSU came out on top. In Sunday's series finale, Florida State defeated Wake 3-2 in 11 innings taking its 14th ACC series in the last 15 opportunities.

Despite being held to a season-low six hits on Sunday, the Seminoles came through down the stretch doubling their scoring in extra innings by registering a run in the 10th and then the game-winner in the 11th. Buster Posey and Jack Rye led off the top of the 11th with back-to-back singles and moved up a base as the Wake right fielder bobbled the ball hit by Rye. Dennis Guinn stepped in a drove a sacrifice fly out to center scoring Posey for a 3-2 lead.

Buster Posey led the Seminole offense with a pair of hits while posting an RBI and scoring the go-a-head run in the 11th. With the win, FSU remained perfect in one-run games running their record to 7-0 on the year matching last year's win total in one-run games (7-2).

No. 17 Georgia Tech Sweeps Boston College with 3-2 Win

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Andrew Robinson worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the seventh and Zach Von Tersch tossed 6.1 strong innings to guide No. 17 Georgia Tech (22-5, 8-4 ACC) past Boston College (11-14, 2-10 ACC), 3-2, Sunday afternoon to help the Yellow Jackets to a series sweep of the Eagles.

Robinson entered the game with one out and the Jackets holding onto a 3-1 lead and forced a slow ground ball by Marc Perdios. Brad Feltes stepped on the bag at third base and threw across the diamond for the double play, but Perdios beat the throw as a run scored on the play. Robinson then struck out Barry Butera to help Tech hold onto the 3-2 lead.

After allowing the first two batters to reach base in the eighth, the Yellow Jacket sophomore forced three-straight infield flies before turning the game over to Brad Rulon in the ninth inning. Rulon forced a line out, strikeout and fly out to pick up his third save of the season.

Zach Von Tersch (3-1) picked up the win by facing just three over the minimum through the first five innings. He allowed two runs on five hits while striking out three and walking three in the game.

No. 15 Virginia Edges Virginia Tech to Sweep Three-Game Series

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Virginia wrapped up a three-game series sweep of Virginia Tech Sunday afternoon with a 2-1 victory over the Hokies in baseball action at Davenport Field. The Cavaliers continued their recent dominance over the Hokies with their 12th straight win in the series, including all 10 games since Virginia Tech entered the ACC in 2005. The win also was head coach Brian O'Connor's 200th at Virginia as his teams improved to 11-0 against Virginia Tech.

Virginia (23-5, 8-4 ACC) again received a solid starting pitching performance, as Andrew Carraway (Jr., Marietta, Ga.) tossed 5.2 innings and surrendered one earned run, four hits and three walks while striking out seven as he received a no decision. In the series, the Cavaliers' rotation of Jacob Thompson (Jr., Danville, Va.), Pat McAnaney (Sr., Syracuse, N.Y.) and Carraway combined to go 23.2 innings and allow four earned runs and 17 hits while striking out 25 (1.52 ERA).

Matt Packer (So., Germantown, Tenn.) pitched two scoreless innings of relief to move to 4-0 this season. Michael Schwimer (Sr., Alexandria, Va.) pitched the final 1.1 innings to nab his eighth save of the year.

Rhett Ballard (1-3) took the loss for the Hokies after allowing a run, three hits and two walks in 3.1 innings of relief. Andrew Wells started for Virginia Tech and went 4.2 innings and gave up a run, four hits and three walks while striking out two.

Sunday's Duke Baseball Game Against No. 2 Miami Rained Out

The Duke baseball game against No. 2 Miami on Sunday, March 30 at Jack Coombs Field, was cancelled midway through the bottom of the first inning due to rain. The game will not be rescheduled.

Rain Cancels Game Three Of Carolina-State Series

Game three of this weekend's baseball series between No. 3 North Carolina and NC State was canceled due to rain and cannot be made up due to Atlantic Coast Conference regulations. The Tar Heels captured Friday's game, 5-2, with the Wolfpack winning Saturday, 8-6.