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COLLEGE PARK, MD-  Richie Shaffer’s two-out, two-run triple in the ninth inning gave Clemson a 5-3 lead and the Tigers held on for a 5-4 victoryat Bob Smith Stadium on Friday night.  The Tigers improved to 22-17 overall and 10-9 in the ACC. 

The Tigers scored one run in the third inning and two runs in the fifth inning to take a 3-0 lead.  Clemson maintained that lead until the eighth inning, when Maryland scored three runs on three two-out hits to tie the score.  But with runners on first and second with two outs in the top of the ninth inning, Shaffer hit high flyball to deep right field that fell for a triple to score two runs.  Jordan Hagel responded with a two-out solo homer in the bottom of the ninth inning, but it was not enough, as Clemson won its sixth game in a row away from home.

Scott Firth (4-0) earned the win despite allowing five hits, four runs, and one walk with two strikeouts in the final 2.0 innings pitched.  Starter Kevin Brady, who was pitching less than 25 miles from his hometown of Gaithersburg, MD, tied his career high with 7.0 innings pitched.  He yielded just five hits, no runs, and two walks with eight strikeouts.

The Tigers took the game’s first lead in the third inning.  Jason Stolz led off with an infield single, then the next two Tigers fouled out on bunts.  After Shaffer walked on seven pitches, Phil Pohl lined a two-out single to left field to score Stolz.

In the fifth inning, Steve Wilkerson led off with a double down the left-field line.  Two batters later, Shaffer’s sharply-hit grounder got by the glove of third-baseman K.J. Hockaday, allowing Wilkerson to score.  Pohl followed with a double to left-center to plate Shaffer, giving Clemson a 3-0 lead.

Stolz had a team-high three hits and scored two runs for the Tigers, who amassed 10 hits.  Pohl went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs, while Brittle extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a first-inning double.

Clemson and Maryland will play game-two of the series and the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday at 11:00 AM.

(Clemson sports information contributed to this report.)