Trio of Homers Trips Dukes at Clemson

Friday, February 26

Clemson, S.C.

4 p.m.

James Madison University

2-3

Clemson

3-1

James Madison

Clemson

2/26/2016 8:45:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

CLEMSON, S.C. -Three Clemson homers accounted for five runs on Friday evening, as James Madison dropped a 6-1 decision in non-conference baseball action at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

The Dukes, who fell to 2-3 on the season, dropped the first game of their first three-game ACC series since the 2006 season, despite yielding just eight hits to Clemson, which improved to 3-1 on the strength of home runs in the second, fifth and sixth innings.

Senior shortstop Chad Carroll scored the Dukes' only run of the game after opening the top of the sixth inning with JMU's first hit. After stealing second and moving to third on a single from junior left fielder Ky Parrott, Carroll came home on an RBI groundout to cut the lead to 3-1.

With two outs in the bottom half of the frame, however, center fielder Chase Pinder, who had picked up a solo homer in the previous inning, launched an 0-2 pitch over the left field fence to put the contest out of reach at 6-1.

Sophomore right fielder Adam Sisk picked up the third and final hit for the Dukes, drilling a single to right field with two outs in the ninth.

Senior left-hander Aaron Hoover took the loss for JMU, giving up just four hits and striking out two across four complete innings, with Clemson's first two homers accounting for three runs. Sophomore Eric Yankey and senior Patrick Toohers stood out in relief, throwing a scoreless inning each and surrendering only one hit apiece.

Sophomore left-hander Charlie Banks kept the Dukes off-balance for much of the day en route to the win, striking out seven and allowing just two hits across six innings to advance to 1-0. Freshman righty Alex Eubanks picked up his first save of the year, working the final three innings for Clemson.

QUOTING COACH IKENBERRY
"I thought we played great defense tonight behind our pitchers, which was really good to see. That three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth was the turning point; I liked our chances in the top half when we threatened and picked up a run, but we couldn't push it across. Regardless, I was proud of the way our guys played in a big, hostile environment and in our first game on the road."

UP NEXT
The Dukes and Tigers are back in action on Saturday afternoon for the second game of the three-game weekend series. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m., with live video and stats provided at ClemsonTigers.com.