The No. 4 Clemson Tigers clinched the series sweep on Sunday afternoon, defeating the Virginia Tech Hokies 8-3 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
The Tigers now have an overall record of 28-5 and are 13-2 in ACC play. Clemson is in the driver’s seat sitting in first place in the conference, one game ahead of Louisville.
“Well thank the Lord for Chase Pinder and Jordan Greene,” head coach Monte Lee started off Sunday’s post-game press conference with.
In the second inning Virginia Tech loaded the bases with one out. A fly ball was hit into shallow right field toward the right field foul line. Second baseman, Jordan Greene made an excellent play running backwards and catching the ball near the line which prevented the Hokies from scoring. Then with two outs and the bases loaded, center fielder, Chase Pinder made an unbelievable catch, robbing Jack Owens of a grand slam which allowed the Tigers to escape that inning.
“The game could’ve been a lot different if not for those two great defensive plays in the second inning,” Lee said.
“It’s honestly something when you’re growing up you practice and you dream about doing that,” Pinder said after the game. “I had my dad when I was little throw it over our little picket fence and I would try to rob it. But honestly I don’t remember much. I just remember getting a good beat on the ball and timing up the jump and making the play.”
“I remember it,” Clemson’s starting pitcher Pat Krall said. “I just remember leaving a pitch up. He hit it and I was saying some words I shouldn’t say out loud to myself. But when he is in the outfield he catches almost everything. He looked like he had a good beat on it. When he jumped I was kind of speechless at first. All I could do was really smile even though I was mad at myself. Dinner is on me tonight that was unbelievable.”
Although Krall did mention he was frustrated about where he left that pitch, he did pitch a solid 5 2/3 innings, giving up five hits, one earned run, and also struck out three.
“I definitely didn’t have my ace stuff,” Krall continued. “I didn’t feel as great coming into it. My fastball command was a little bit off. I left some balls up. I give Virginia Tech credit. If they got a pitch that was up they definitely hammered that pitch. So I definitely wish I would’ve commanded better.”
Robert Jolly, who was the designated hitter in Sunday’s game had a great afternoon at the plate going two-for-three with two RBIs.
“This lineup is honestly incredible to watch,” Jolly said. “Even the days that I’m not in there I have full confidence in everybody that’s in there. We have 12, 13 guys on this team that can really produce and that can really hit the baseball any given day.”
Clemson will be back at home on Tuesday to face the Charleston Southern Buccaneers at 6:30 p.m. The Tigers will then make the trip to Tallahassee, Fla., for a three-game series with Florida State between Saturday, April 15th and Monday, April 17th.