Chalk up another upset. In a postseason filled with more upsets than usual, Clemson can add another one to the list after defeating the nation’s top team, Arizona St., to open up their College World Series account. The Tigers used a balanced offense to put the Sun Devils on their heels and then despite a much maligned pitching staff, limited the Arizona St. offense to just eight hits en route to a 6-3 victory.
2010 College World Series: Clemson Puts Away Nation’s Top Team, 6-3
Clemson never trailed in the ballgame, taking a 2-0 lead in the second inning. After the Sun Devils cut that lead to 2-1, the Tigers put up three in the fifth and one in the sixth for a 6-1 lead before hanging on for the W. Every single Tiger starter picked up at least one hit and no Clemson player scored more than one run or had more than one RBI in a complete team effort. Add in the fact that Clemson finished without an extra base hit and you have an offense that just chipped away at the Sun Devils.
Despite the highest team ERA of any team that made it to Omaha, the Tigers showed some talent on the hill to limit the potent Arizona St. bats. Casey Harman allowed just three runs in six innings of work, then Alex Frederick allowed just one hit in three shutout innings to pick up a well-deserved save. Now, Clemson sits pretty in the winner’s bracket with a game against Oklahoma on tap tomorrow, while Arizona St. will play an elimination game versus South Carolina.
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