DURHAM, N.C. -- No. 5 Clemson scored seven runs with two outs in the sixth inning, capped by Caden Grice’s grand slam, in its 14-5 victory over Virginia Tech in the ACC Tournament at Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Wednesday night.
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The Tigers, who won their 13th game in a row, improved to 40-17, while the Hokies fell to 30-23.
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After the Hokies scored a run in the first inning, Benjamin Blackwell lined a two-out single to tie the score in the top of the second inning. Virginia Tech regained the leading in the bottom of the second inning with a run.
Clemson answered again in the third inning on Will Taylor’s sacrifice fly and Billy Amick’s two-out, run-scoring double to extend his hitting streak to 10 games and to give Clemson a 3-2 lead.
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In the fourth inning, Carson DeMartini flared a two-out, two-run single to give Virginia Tech the lead and pinch-hitter Sam Tackett followed with a run-scoring single to give the Hokies a 5-3 lead.
Clemson put together a two-out rally in the sixth inning to take the lead with seven two-out runs. Jacob Jarrell’s pop up fell in shallow left-center to score two runs, then Cam Cannarella ripped a single to score Jarrell. Three batters later, Grice crushed a grand slam, his 15th long ball of the year. It was also his third grand slam of the season, setting a school record.
The Tigers tacked on a run in the eighth inning on Riley Bertram’s single and three runs in the ninth inning, highlighted by Amick’s run-scoring single. Bertram and Amick produced a game-high three hits.
B.J. Bailey (2-2) pitched 1.2 scoreless innings in relief to earn the win. Joe Allen got the start for the Tigers, allowing five hits and two earned runs in 1.1 innings. Rocco Reid (1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R), Ty Olenchuk (1.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER), Willie Weiss (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R), Jackson Lindley (1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R) and Nick Hoffmann (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R) also joined Bailey in receiving relief work.
Hokie starter Drue Hackenberg (5-8) suffered the loss, as he yielded seven runs (four earned) on seven hits in 5.2 innings pitched.
The Tigers play No. 6 seed Boston College on Friday at 11 a.m. on the ACC Network to determine the winner of Pool C. Clemson is the designated home team and will occupy the third-base dugout.
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