Chanticleers nip Tigers

CLEMSON -- Clemson defeated South Carolina in a best-of-three series earlier this season, for what some dubbed as state championship bragging rights. No. 14 Coastal Carolina had something to say about the state championship subject Wednesday night at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, defeating Clemson 4-3 in 11 innings.

Clemson wasted a quality outing from Dominic Leone, who made his first college start. The Tigers bullpen blew an eighth-inning lead and Rico Noel hit a game-winning solo home run off reliever David Haselden in the 11th. The Tigers (18-7) also failed to produce timely hits, which has become a trend in losing five of their last six games.

Clemson produced just five hits and left 10 runners on base.

"We are not hitting with men on base, we are not getting the big hit," Clemson coach Jack Leggett said. "We made two critical (pitching) mistakes, and paid for both with home runs.

"We have to get a lot better."

Haselden skirted danger in the ninth and 10th innings.

In the ninth, Haselden loaded the bases and went to a full count on Tommy LaStella, who tied the score with an eighth-inning home run, before striking LaStella out on a high fastball. Haselden also pitched a scoreless 10th, though he put center fielder Chris Epps to the wall twice for putouts.

The Tigers are hoping to stabilize roles in their bullpen. Clemson's six saves have been split between three pitchers.

While Clemson tries to solidify its bullpen, it is also seeking midweek pitching help.

Quality depth is especially important in the postseason, and Clemson has at times struggled to get quality starts from its midweek starters.

On Wednesday, Leone showed promise, limiting Coastal to one unearned over 5 1/3 innings. Leone, a freshman, was the No. 1 prospect out of Connecticut, according to Perfect Game, allowed four hits, walked one and struck out one.

The 5-11 right-hander mixed his pitches well and had better command. He entered having walked five in 7 1/3 innings.

"I knew I had to throw strikes against a good hitting team -- you can't put extra guys on base," Leone said.

Leone lost a chance for his second win when Jonathan Meyer allowed a leadoff home run in the eighth to LaStella to tie the score at 3.

What isn't a concern for Clemson is Kyle Parker.

In the fourth inning, Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney watched from the first-base stands as Parker launched his 11th home run to just right of center field, a sky-scratching two-run shot, staking the Tigers to a 3-0 lead.

Hours earlier, Swinney had witnessed Parker connect with Marquan Jones for a 70-yard touchdown strike on Parker's first series of football practice.

Swinney texted Clemson sports information director Tim Bourret with a message: "First series a 70-yard touchdown strike then a bomb to center just another day in the life of Kyle Parker."

Swinney waited for another timely hit, but for Clemson it never came.

Reach Travis Sawchik at tsawchik@postandcourier.com and check out his Clemson blog at www.postandcourier.com/blogs/tiger_tracks.