Baseball Falls to Clemson in NCAA Regional Final, 8-2
5/27/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 27, 2001
CLEMSON, SC - First baseman Michael Johnson hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning to spark Clemson to an 8-2 win over Seton Hall in the championship round of the NCAA Division I Baseball Regional at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
Second-seeded Clemson (41-20) swept through the double elimination regional without a loss. The Tigers advance to the Super Regional where they will face the University of Miami in a best-of-three series. Seton Hall (34-23-1), which defeated top-seeded South Alabama twice in the regional, made its most successful run in the NCAA Tournament since 1984. The Pirates, who won seven of the final nine games, needed to defeat Clemson twice in order to advance.
Seton Hall had an opportunity to break into the scoring column early but left seven runners on base in the first three innings, including the bases loaded in the top of the second inning.
Clemson opened the scoring in the bottom of the third inning. With two out and a runner on second, Johnson belted a home run to right-centerfield off Seton Hall starter Brett Hoffmann (0-3) to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead. Johnson, who was selected as the regional's most outstanding performer, belted three home runs in three games.
Seton Hall answered back in the top of the fourth. Senior rightfielder Joe Cuervo (Warren, NJ) singled with two out and then stole second. He scored on junior centerfielder Mike Bascom's (Ocean Township, NJ) single to right to pull the Pirates within 2-1. Cuervo, who was named to the all-regional team, went 3-for-5.
The score remained 2-1 until the bottom of the sixth. Clemson centerfielder Chad Coder led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kyle Frank. He then scored on a single by catcher Seth Miller to put the Tigers up 3-1. Hoffmann, who turned in his longest outing of the year, departed after giving up an infield single to Jeff Baker that scored Miller with two out. Shortstop Khalil Greene then greeted reliever Elvys Quezada with a two-run homer to centerfield that increased Clemson's lead to 7-1.
Seton Hall received a solo home run from senior first baseman Brian Leighton (Brewster, NY) to make the score 7-2. Leighton went 3-for-5 in his final collegiate outing.
Clemson's final run came on a solo home run by Baker with two out in the bottom of the eighth.
Clemson starter Matt Henrie (6-3) scattered five hits and four walks over six innings to earn the victory. He struck out six and gave up just one run while stranding nine Pirates on base.
