Tigers hang on to beat Buccaneers

CLEMSON — Freshman left-handers Matthew Crownover and Zack Erwin, along with sophomore righty Kyle Schnell, combined to allow just five hits, one unearned run, and no walks while striking out four as Clemson beat Charleston Southern, 3-1, on Wednesday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

The Tigers (10-5) improved to 17-0 all-time against Charleston Southern (8-10). Clemson next hosts Virginia in a three-game series starting Friday at 6:30 p.m., while the Buccaneers open a three-game set at Liberty beginning Friday at 3 p.m.

The Tigers scored two runs in the first inning, then both starting pitchers settled in and did not allow a run during the next five innings. Clemson added an insurance run in the seventh, then CSU scored in the eighth inning and had two runners in scoring position before Schnell induced an inning-ending flyout.

CSU then put two runners on base in the ninth inning with one out before the Tigers turned a game-ending double play.

Crownover (2-0) earned the win by tossing six scoreless innings, allowing three hits and no walks with two strikeouts.

Andrew Tomasovich (0-3) pitched a complete game, but suffered the loss. In eight innings pitched, the lefthander yielded only four hits, three runs, and two walks with five strikeouts. During one stretch, he retired 16 batters in a row.

Bobby Ison went 2 for 4 with a double and RBI to pace CSU, who collected five hits.