Sunday, June 9, 2024

State scoreboard, Sunday, June 9

Cam Cannarella's 10th-inning catch was
reminiscent of Willie Mays' famous catch in
the 1954 World Series. (Clemson photo)
Player of the day: Cam Cannarella, Clemson, 2-6, game-tying 3-run HR in 9th inning 

NCAA Clemson Super Regional
* Florida 11, Clemson 10, 13 innings -
Michael Robertson's two-run double lifted the Gators to a walk-off win and trip to the College World Series with a two-game sweep of Clemson.

The five-hour game features many ebbs and flows of momentum in front of a raucous crowd at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Jac Caglianone gave Florida - the designated home team - a 2-0 first-inning with his 33rd homer of the season.

Things began getting wacky in the Clemson second. Jack Crighton hit a two-out double and Nolan Nawrocki followed with dribbler up the first base line. Caglianone fielded the ball and tagged Nawrocki as they collided in the baseline. It appeared Nawrocki made some additional contact and Caglianone shoved back. There was some milling around as coaches and umpires restored order.

After a lengthy video review, umpires ejected Nawrocki because they determined he left his position on the field (base runner near third base) to go toward the fracas (in front of the Clemson dugout, where he would have gone to get his bat and glove).

Clemson took a 3-2 lead in the third. Jarren Purify walked and scored on Jacob Hinderleider's double. Blake Wright followed with his 22nd home run.

The Gators tied the score in the bottom of the inning on two singles and a wild pitch.

Colby Shelton's two-run single in the fifth gave Florida (34-28) a 5-3 lead.

After Jimmy Obertop's 22nd homer get a run back for Clemson in the sixth. Brody Donay's two-run homer in the bottom of the inning pushed Florida's advantage to 7-4.

Run-scoring singles by Cam Cannarella and Trystan McCladdie pulled Clemson within 7-6 after 7 1/2 innings.

With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Clemson intentionally walked the dangerous Caglianone to avoid pitching to him. But Ashton Wilson, a transfer from Charleston Southern, responded with a two-run homer and a three-run cushion going to the ninth,.

Cue more drama.

Hinderleider and Wright collected one-out singles and Cannarella followed with a homer to right to tie the score.

The next drama came in the Florida 10th. A Clemson error put a runner on second with two outs and Caglianone was intentionally walked again. Wilson followed with a drive to just short of the wall in center field. Running with his back to the infield, Cannarella made a Willie Mays-style over-the shoulder catch to prolong Clemson's season.

Tyler Olenchuk was hit by a pitch to lead off the Clemson 13th, but pinch-runner Devin Parks was picked off. One out later, Mathes homered to right to give the Tigers a 10-9 lead.

Umpires huddled shortly after the homer, and went over to converse with Clemson coach Erik Bakich, who became increasingly animated and eventually was ejected from the game. Bakich motioned to the Doug Kingsmore Stadium crowd as he was leaving, eliciting a loud cheer in response. ESPNU later reported that assistant coach Jack Leggett was also was ejected.

Luke Heyman led off the Florida 13th with a single past shortstop and Tyler Shelnut singled to left.  Dale Thomas, a transfer from Coastal Carolina, bunted the runner over and Donay was intentionally walked to set up a potential forceout at home or game-ending double play. But Robertson connected for a blast to the left-center field gap to end the game and leave the Tigers (44-16) short of Omaha again.

Clemson pitchers struck out 20, including 10 by Austin Gordon in five innings.

It was the Tigers' first home super regional series loss.

NCAA Clemson Super Regional
Florida 11, Clemson 10, 13 innings, Florida wins series, 2-0
(1/1403)

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