Youth Movement: Freshmen help power Tigers past 49ers

Davis Sharpe greets Askew near the dugout Monday (Photo by David Grooms)

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Mon Feb 18 18:56:07 GMT-04:00 2019

CLEMSON – Clemson’s youth movement continues to pay dividends.

Head coach Monte Lee started a freshman pitcher for the third consecutive game, and Keyshawn Askew responded with a stellar effort in his first collegiate start as No. 14 Clemson defeated Charlotte 7-6 Monday afternoon at Doug Kingsmore.

Freshman Adam Hackenberg homered and drove in two runs, while Jordan Greene added a solo shot and two RBI and Logan Davidson homered for the second time in four games. The Tigers hit four homers and stole five bases.

Clemson improves to 3-1 with the victory.

Davidson homered to center field on a 2-0 pitch with two out in the bottom of the first, giving the Tigers the quick 1-0 lead. Greene homered down the left field line in the second that made it 2-0.

Greene singled to lead off the bottom of the fourth and promptly stole second. One out later, Hackenberg homered over the wall in left for the first home run of his career, and the Tigers held a 4-0 lead.

Michael Green singled to lead off the fifth, stole second and took third on a wild pitch. Davidson walked on that wild pitch, putting runners at first and third with no out. Davidson stole second on a failed pickoff attempt – the first basemen looked at Green at third before throwing late to second – and one out later Grayson Byrd walked to load the bases.

Greene flew out to center, and the fly was deep enough to score Green from third, and Davidson took third on the throw back to the infield. Byrd immediately broke for second, and when the throw went to second, Davidson trotted home for the 6-0 lead.

Meanwhile, Askew was electric, pitching five scoreless and hitless innings to start the game. He tired in the sixth, however, with two hit batters and two singles leading to Charlotte’s first run. Askew was replaced by Travis Marr, who gave up a run-scoring double before being replaced by Ryne Huggins. The 49ers added two more runs and trailed 6-5 after five innings.

Askew was credited with 5 1/3 innings pitched, giving up three earned runs while walking one and striking out six in picking up his first win.

The 49ers added another run in the seventh that made it 6-5, but Bryce Teodosio homered to lead off the bottom of the eighth to make it 7-5 and give the Tigers a two-run cushion, his second homer on the young season.

Carson Spiers pitched the last two innings to pick up his second save of the seasom, allowing a single run in the ninth.

The Tigers return to action Wednesday, hosting Tennessee Tech at 4 pm.