Barth with lone multi-hit game

CLEMSON, S.C. (April 20, 2022) – A two-hit game from Tommy Barth (Brecksville, Ohio) and a solo shot from Garett Wallace (Sanford, Fla.) didn’t provide enough offense for the Blue & Gold.

Clemson used ten hits and 12 runs to take down the Bucs 12-2 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. ETSU allowed their sixth double-digit run game of the season. Clemson has won three of the last four meetings under Coach Pennucci.

Landon Smiddy (Knoxville, Tenn.), who got his third midweek nod of the season, allowed just one run on one hit in two innings of work to keep the Bucs in the game, striking out three in the process. Barth, who led the game with a 2-2 double down the left-field line, scored on a passed ball in the third inning to tie it after Clemson got on with a solo homer.

Following a three-run third from the Tigers, Nathan Hickman (Lenoir City, Tenn.) was stellar in relief, going three innings and giving up just one hit and no runs or walks while striking out three as well. Hickman faced the most batters (10) of all seven ETSU pitchers.

The Buccaneer bats showed life in the sixth inning as Wallace hammered a two-out solo homer to left field, his sixth of the season and fourth in his last six games. Three of his last four home runs have come with no runners on and at least one out. Hickman threw his third and final scoreless frame in the following inning to keep it a four-run lead.

The Bucs threatened in the seventh inning with a two-out walk from Justin Hanvey (Purcellville, Va.) and a single from Barth to put a pair of runners on, but a new Clemson arm halted the comeback.

A seven-run eighth put Clemson ahead by double-digit runs. It marks the third time this season that ETSU has lost by double-digit runs, compared to 14 wins by the same amount. The Bucs drop to 3-5 in night games on the season.

Pitchers of Record

• Win: Caden Grice 2-0
• Loss: Colby Stuart 3-2
• Save: N/A 

Game Leaders

ETSU

• Barth | 2-for-3, 2B, R, BB
• Wallace | 1-for-4, HR
• Hodge | 1-for-4, 2B
• Hickman | 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 34 P

CLEM

• Wright | 3-for-4, HR, 2B, 6 RBI
• Ingle | 3-for-4, 2B, RBI, 2 R, BB
• Grice | W, 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 22 P

Notables

• Wallace becomes the third batter since the start of conference play to homer in back-to-back games, joining Bryce Hodge (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Noah Webb (Kodak, Tenn.). Wallace sits fourth on the team with six on the campaign. Wallace sits fourth on the team with six on the campaign.
• With his leadoff double, Barth extended his hitting streak to 10 games, the longest such streak by a batter this season. Barth now leads the team with a .357 average in his first season.
• With his walk in the third inning, Webb extended his on-base streak to 19 games, dating back to mid-March.
• Wednesday night’s game marked the first relief appearance for Colby Stuart (Elon, N.C.) since Feb. 22, 2020, when he went three innings against Rider.
• The Bucs finish the regular season 0-2 against Power Five teams.

Record Update

• ETSU: 21-12 (3-3 SoCon)
• CLEM: 24-13 (4-10 ACC)

Up Next

ETSU will play their first game at Thomas Stadium since March 29, hosting VMI for a three-game set in Johnson City this weekend. First pitch Friday night is set for 6:00 p.m. All three games will be streaming on ESPN+.

For more information on Buccaneer baseball, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the baseball page.