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Kissimmee, FL -- Sophomore Ryan Mottl (1-0) picked up where he left off last season by earning the victory, pitching seven innings and allowing only five hits while striking out eight, in Clemson's season opening victory over South Florida 4-2 in the Olive Garden Classic.
Clemson's won its 11th opening-game win in the last 12 years. Clemson also ran its record to 1-0 on the season, while South Florida fell to 1-4. Scott Glaser (0-1) suffered the loss for USF.
Clemson's offense scattered its 10 hits among eight different players. Jason Harris and Matt Padgett chipped in with two hits apiece, while Derek Borgert, Padgett, and Doug Roper each had one RBI on the day. Mike Pilger provided USF's only runs on a two-run homer.
The Tigers got on the board first on a Borgert single to center, plating Harris, who had doubled down the left field line in his first career at bat as a Tiger.
Clemson went ahead 2-0 in the sixth inning. Kurt Bultmann, who set a Clemson single season record for two-base-hits in 1997, doubled to left field and came home on a Scott Glaser wild pitch.
After the Tigers added a third run in the top of the eighth inning on a Padgett RBI groundout, South Florida's Mike Pilger cut the lead to one on a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth.
Clemson was able to add an insurance run in the ninth on a Roper sacrifice fly, plating freshman Casey Stone, who led off the inning with a bunt single to third.
Scott Clackum pitched two perfect innings to earn the save after Mottl gave up the home run in the eighth.
Clemson's second scheduled game on Friday (vs. Auburn) was postponed (rained out) until Saturday. Clemson will face Auburn on Saturday at 10:00 AM. Clemson will also face Central Florida on Saturday at 1:00 PM.
R H E
Clemson 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 - 4 10 1
South Florida 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 - 2 5 2
WP - Mottl (1-0) LP - Glaser (0-1) Save - Clackum (1)
2B - Bultmann (1), Harris (1)
HR - Pilger (1)
Start: 12:00 PM Time: 2:18
Mottl faced two batters in the eighth inning
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