Charlie Barnes went six strong innings and Chase Pinder hit two home runs to left field to lead Clemson to a 6-1 win over James Madison Friday afternoon at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

“Pinder carried us tonight.  He came up with two homers and drove in five and he had a big night for us,” said Clemson head coach Monte Lee following the win.

Barnes earned his first win of the season going 6.0 innings and only giving up two hits, one run and one earned run.  Charlie, who finished with seven strikeouts, had a no-hitter going into the sixth inning where he gave up his two hits and run.  Alex Eubanks pitched the final three innings to finish it off for Clemson.  Eubanks finished the game with five strikeouts.

“The pitching staff was outstanding again.  Charlie Barnes through five hadn’t given up anything.  And even in the sixth he gave up a hit and the leadoff guy got on and found his way to third base with one out and he had a big punch out.  He only surrendered one run which was I thought was a big situation at the time.  It was a 3-1 game at the time and they had second and third with only one out.  We got the punch out and only gave up one run so I thought Barnes was outstanding.  And then Eubanks followed him up and was really, really good” said Lee.

The Tigers got the lead with a solo leadoff home run from Chris Okey in the bottom of the second.  It was Okey’s second hit of the season and his first home run.

Clemson added a run in the fourth.  Seth Beer doubled down to start the inning.  With one out Weston Wilson walked then Beer and Wilson advanced on a balk.  Beer then scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-0 Tigers.

In the bottom of the fifth the Tigers added another run when Chase Pinder hit a solo home run to start the inning.

Pinder would go long again in the sixth to break the game open for Clemson.  Chris Williams walked before Weston Wilson singled to left.  With two outs Chase Pinder hit his second home run in two innings and his third on the season to put the Tigers up 6-1.

The Tigers moved to 3-1 on the season with the win.  Clemson and James Madison play game two at 2 PM Saturday afternoon.