Blowout wins boost Clemson

Clemson 10, Tenn. Tech 0; Clems on 15, OSU 1M

CLEMSON — The Tigers' regional on the brink continues.

After Jeff Schaus saved Clemson's season Friday night, a pair of freshman arms extended it Sunday, pushing the Tigers to the cusp of college baseball's sweet 16.

Backed by a resurgent offense, Chris Dwyer had his best showing since April. The lefty, who threw 133 pitches, came within one strike from a complete game, while posting a career-high 13 strikeouts to pace a 15-1 win against Oklahoma State.

The elimination game win forces a championship game at 7 tonight against the Cowboys (34-23).

Dwyer showed improved command and induced swings and misses on his offspeed offerings, limiting the No. 3 seed Cowboys to six hits and a walk.

In his first win since April 11, he equaled Scott Weismann, who shut out Tennessee Tech over eight innings to lead Clemson (42-20) to a 10-0 win earlier in the day, eliminating the

No. 4 seed Golden Eagles.

The wins completed a 72-hour period in which the Tigers split a pair of one-run games, and swept two elimination games.

"It was a perfect storm for us,'' said Clemson coach Jack Leggett. "It's (rare) to have two freshmen pitch like that in a pressure situation.''

With Clemson having thrown four starting pitchers, and the Cowboys three, the question becomes who is available to pitch today?

Leggett said he would probably start Ryan Hinson, Cowboys coach Frank Anderson did not reveal who he would start, though he said ace reliever Randy McCurry who closed out Saturday's win could go "four or five innings."

Whoever pitches for Clemson hopes for similar offensive aid.

Oklahoma State starter Tyler Blandford, who possesses a mid 90s fastball and entered with 95 strikeouts in 76 1/3 innings, and figured to offer to be a tough matchup.

The left-handed heavy Tigers knocked Blandford from the game in the second, after he threw 67 pitches.

Clemson scored four in the first, Mike Freeman launched an opposite field home run in the second, and Ben Paulsen's second homer of the day, also to the opposite field, gave Clemson an 11-0 lead after the third.

It gave Dwyer margin for error, who entered with a 6.83 ERA over his last six starts. The 21-year-old freshman didn't allow a run until Tyrone Hambly smashed a solo homer.

The lefty was originally scheduled to pitch the first game Sunday, but after reviewing Tech's right-hand heavy lineup Leggett elected to go with Weismann.

The Tigers opened the day by blitzing overmatched Golden

Eagles starter Chason Choate for five earned runs in 2 2/3 innings.

Clemson owned an 8-0 lead after four innings and Leggett began to remove starters from the 91-degree heat to keep them fresh for the day's second elimination game.

Weismann didn't need much support.

Weismann said he had "good command'' of his fastball. He struck out just two as he tried to pitch to contact to remain in the game and avoid stressing the Clemson bullpen.