Box Score

CLEMSON, S.C. -- The Clemson bullpen tossed five scoreless innings to keep Elon at bay en route to a 9-2 victory over the visiting Phoenix on Wednesday afternoon.  The loss dropped Elon to 15-8 on the year while the 14th-ranked Tigers improved to 12-7.

Elon jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning.  Jake Luce started things off with a single to center, stole second and went to third on Niko Fraser's single through the right side.  Sebastian Gomez got the Phoenix on the board with a sacrifice fly to center.

In the bottom of the second, Clemson put runners on second and third with two down before Spencer Kieboom floated a single just inside the right field line and just out of reach of three Phoenix defenders for a two-RBI single.

Dominic Attanasio led off the bottom of the third with a single.  Will Lamb's bunt went right back to the mound, but the throw to second was high and went into center field, allowing both runners to move up.  Jeff Schaus' fly ball to right was deep enough for both runners to tag and advance, including Attanasio who scored the third Tiger run of the game.  Richie Shaffer followed with a single through the left side of the infield to score Lamb to make it 4-1.

Seth Canipe reached on a one-out single in the top of the fourth for the Phoenix before stealing second with two outs.  Harry Austin's ground ball to short should have ended the inning, but the throw to first was off the mark allowing Canipe to score Elon's second run of the game.

Clemson had runners on first and second with one out in the fourth when Luce made a diving catch in left for the second out.  He came up firing to second to try and double the runner off, but the throw went into right field allowing one run to score.  Attanasio hit what looked to be a routine fly ball, but the wind carried it just over the wall down the left field line for a two-run homer that gave the Tigers a 7-2 lead.

Three consecutive singles from Attanasio, Lamb and Schaus scored another run for the Tigers in the seventh.  With runners on the corners and no outs, Shaffer sent a sacrifice fly to right to score the ninth Clemson run of the contest.

Grant Fisher (0-1) took the loss in his first collegiate start after surrendering seven runs (five earned) on seven hits in four innings.  The freshman did not allow a walk.

Lamb (1-0) picked up the win after giving up two runs (one earned) on six hits in four frames.

Elon's offense was led by Luce who went 2-for-5, recording his 11th multi-hit game of the season, and Gomez who was 2-for-3.

Attanasio's 3-for-4, three-run, two-RBI day paced the Tigers.

Elon returns home to Latham Park to host Samford in a crucial Southern Conference series this weekend.  Game one is set for a 6:30 p.m. start on Friday night.