CLEMSON, S.C. – It had been nearly 40 years since the Clemson Tigers were swept at home by a non-conference opponent, but after a dominant performance by UCF over the weekend it's time to restart that counter as the Knights completed the series sweep on Sunday with a 13-6 win at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
With double-digit hits on Saturday and Sunday and seven home runs over two games, the Knights became the first non-ACC team to sweep a three-game series at Clemson since 1985.
After clinching the series yesterday, the momentum from the previous two games spilled over into Sunday's game. For the second time in the series, the first run on the board was a Knights homer, this time courtesy of Tom Josten. The solo shot to left field opened the scoring in the 13-6 ballgame.
Ben McCabe followed with a single in the opening inning which allowed him to score on a mishandled wild pitch, and ended the day 4-5, scoring four times in his second four-run game of the year. The team's home run leader would knock a solo shot down the left field line in the eighth inning to all but seal the game for the Knights.
UCF's three-run first inning was answered by the Tigers, who took their first lead of the series with a four-run first.
Swapping scoreless frames in a quiet second inning, the Knights came out swinging in the third as Josten hit his second home run of the day.
The Knights took back their lead over the Tigers 5-4, but the two teams would go back-and-forth for the middle few frames. Exchanging single-run innings in the fourth, fifth, and sixth, the Knights racked up three more hits, drew two walks, and Corey Robinson became the fifth Knight hit by a pitch across the three games.
The noisy Knights bats made their re-emergence in the top of the seventh. Adding three more singles, from Josten, McCabe, and Andrew Brait, the baserunners wreaked havoc, converting on an error and a wild pitch to tack on five more runs.
Preseason American Athletic All-Conference selection Ben Vespi made his first appearance of the season against the Tigers out of the bullpen. He went two innings, giving up only one hit and one earned run, earning the win.
Two more home runs brought the game's total for the Knights to four as McCabe and Drew Faurot plated the final two runs of the contest, topping off the 13-6 score.
Nick Vieira saw his second appearance of the season, entering the game in the seventh with two away and bases loaded. Working out of the jam, Vieira closed the final two innings without surrendering a run and earned his first career save.
UP NEXT
The Knights return to the state of Florida for a midweek game on the road against Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 6 p.m. On Friday, UCF will host Georgia Southern to kick off a 12-game homestand.
