This midweek game between in-state rivals came down to the lead off hitters: one delivered a huge hit, while the other continued to struggle.
Presbyterian lead off man Glen Casaceli greeted reliever Clay Bates with a two-out, two-run single in the top of the ninth inning to put the Blue Hose up 5-3. Clemson rallied in the bottom half, loading the bases with nobody out on a pair of walks and pitcher Brian Kehner's fielding error when the southpaw couldn't get a grip on a bunt. No. 9 hitter Eli White looped a single to right field that chased home Chris Okey to make it 5-4, but lead off man Tyler Slaton, who started the night hitting .188, capped an 0-for-5 game by grounding into a 1-2-3 double play, igniting a festive celebration from the third base dugout.
Presbyterian moved to 4-1 against fellow South Carolina teams in 2015, and while wins against Wofford, Furman and USC-Upstate are nice, the first victory over Clemson since 2011 is by far the biggest.
* The ninth inning rally by the Blue Hose was impressive, especially considering Paul Campbell struck out the first two batters. Clemson got a huge break when the third strike to the second batter of the frame, Jacob Midkiff was wild and despite clearly having beaten the throw to first, Midkiff was called out by the first-base umpire. Presbyterian head coach Elton Pollock rightfully went out to argue and after a fairly-lengthy discussion, his team rallied. Brandon Martin doubled, then moved to third when right fielder Steven Duggar fumbled the ball in the corner. Guy Casceli walked and stole second before his brother hit a 9-bouncer up the middle for the eventual game-winner.
* I talked with a couple longtime Clemson fans before the game and learned the Tigers had recently pulled in their fences 10 feet in center (400 to 390) and down the lines (320 to 310 in left, 330 to 320 in right). This was hoped to improve the Tigers' home run totals, but one fan told me he thought it was helping the visitors more. This was my first game of the season at Doug Kingsmore, but at least in the first inning that rang true as Presbyterian catcher Cam McRae ripped an opposite field, two-run home run off Jake Long. The Blue Hose lost that lead and another, and after Clemson pulled even at 3-3 on Duggar's fifth-inning double, the score stayed that way until the ninth.
Another good night for nicknames that aren't really nicknames. Thanks to the players and fans for this collection.
Clemson
Reed Rohlman - "Reedo"
Okey - "Oak"
Duggar - "Duggs"
Tyler Krieger - "Kriegs"
Weston Wilson - "West"
Presbyterian
Martin - "B-Mart"
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