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March 13, 1998
CLEMSON, SC -- Fifth-ranked Clemson pounded 18 hits on its way to downing Maine 12-2 on a blustery Friday afternoon at Tiger Field. The top eight starters in the Clemson lineup all had at least two hits.
Sophomore Ryan Mottl (5-0) won his ninth game in a row dating back to last season by pitching seven innings. The Florissant, MO native allowed only four hits, one earned run, and no walks while striking out seven. Matt White pitched two perfect innings to close the game. White also struck out four of the six batters he faced. Tom Koutrouba (1-2) suffered the loss for the Black Bears as he pitched five innings, allowing 15 hits and nine runs.
Clemson (18-2) won its 15th game in its last 16 outings behind the efforts of eight players who had at least two hits. Patrick Boyd and Jason Harris had three hits apiece for the Tigers. Rex Turner led Maine (5-7) with a home run in three at bats.
The Tigers scored two runs in the first off a Harris RBI triple down the right field line and an RBI single by Peter Nystrom. Clemson would add single runs in the third and fourth innings to go ahead 4-0.
Maine rallied in the fifth and sixth innings with single runs. Turner led off the fifth with a deep home run to left field. Brian Poire reached on an error by second baseman Kurt Bultmann in the sixth and came around to score on an RBI groundout by Ron Coombs.
But Clemson responded in the bottom of the sixth with eight runs on eight hits. The first eight batters reached base before Maine recorded an out. Bultmanns two-run homer and Paul Stryhas three-run double to right center highlighted the Clemson uprising.
Clemson will play host to Maine again on Saturday in a doubleheader starting at noon.
Maine 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 - 2 4 0 Clemson 2 0 1 1 0 8 0 0 - 12 18 2 Win - Mottl (5-0) Loss - Koutrouba (1-2) 2B - Stryhas (3) 3B - Harris (1) HR - Turner (3), Bultmann (6) Time: 2:16 Attendance: 1,293
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