Baseball Southern Conference

Saturday's NCAA Baseball Regional Results

Michigan 6, Furman 3

ATLANTA, GA -Kyle Bohm went 3-for-3, with an RBI, and left-handed pitcher Paul Hammond (4-3) worked 3 2/3 strong innings of relief, to lead third-seeded Michigan (42-18) over fourth-seeded Furman (30-29), 6-3, in the NCAA Atlanta Regional at Russ Chandler Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The loss eliminates the Paladins from the NCAA Tournament while Michigan will now play the loser of Saturday afternoon's winner's bracket contest between Georgia Tech and South Carolina on Sunday at noon.

"We're obviously disappointed that we didn't play as well as we are capable," said Furman head coach Ron Smith. "I don't know if Michigan played real well, either, but you have to give them credit...they got some hits when they needed to down the stretch, and we weren't able to do that.

"From where we were three weeks ago, to end up in a situation where we are playing in a regional and going toe-to-toe with a the number two seed (5-4 loss to Georgia Tech in 10 innings Friday night) and then playing a good game against Michigam, I think our players deserve a lot of credit. I can tell you it was a lot of fun to watch for me, but I can tell you to a player and to a coach we're disappointed that we didn't do well here."

Fuman got back-to-back hits from Spence Gibbs and Nick Wajda to start the ninth innings, but right-handed closer Derek Feldkamp came in to record three consecutive outs to earn his sixth save of the season. U of M's Brad Roblin finished 1-for-3, with two runs batted in, and Leif Mahler went 2-for-3, to pace the Wolverines offensively.

Nine different Furman hitters had base hits for the Paladins, while A.J. Davidiuk went 2-for-3. Right-handed pitcher Ben Hunter (6-4) took the loss for Furman on the hill, throwing three innings in relief, allowing five hits, four earned runs and struck out two.

Michigan's right-handed starter Michael Penn threw 4 1/3 innings, allowing four hits, two runs, one earned run and struck out two, and Furman's right-handed starter Matt Klinkler tossed 4 1/3 innings, allowing four hits, two runs, no earned runs and fanned two, both earning no decisions for their respective clubs.

The Paladins jumped out in front early with an unearned run in the first and third innings. Andrew Greene scored on a wild pitch in the first and Case Cassedy drove in Nick Wajda in the third inning with two outs to give Furman a 2-0 lead.

The Wolverines responded with two unearned runs in the bottom of the third inning, highlighted by a sacrifice fly by Roblin and a two-out RBI single up the middle by Bohm to tie the score at 2-2.

U of M threatened in the bottom of the fourth inning with the bases loaded and one out, but Furman's Klinkler pitched his way out of the jam with a foul out to second base and a fly out to center field.

The Paladins loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fifth inning and the Wolverines removed starting pitcher Michael Penn with a 1-2 count on Cassedy in favor of the U of M's Hammond. Hammond tallied a big strikeout for the Wolverines and induced a fly out to shallow centerfield to keep the scored tied at 2-2.

Matthrew Betsill led off the top of the sixth inning with a double down the left field line for the Paladins and advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt. Joe Daysh made the bunt pay off with an RBI single up the middle to give Furman its second lead of the game, 3-2.

Clemson 6, College of Charleston 0

Clemson, S.C. - Josh Cribb pitched a two-hit shutout to lead Clemson to a 6-0 win over College of Charleston in NCAA Regional action in front of 5,617 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, S.C.

The Cougars, who were shut out for the first time in 137 games, fell to 48-14 on the season while the Tigers improve to 41-21 this year.

Clemson threatened in the top of the first as Herman Demmink walked to start the game and then stole second. Cougar starter Danny Gemma then got Brad Chalk out on a grounder to first that advanced Demmink to third. Gemma got Taylor Harbin to pop out and Tyler Harbin smashed a line drive that was caught by right fielder Phillip Coker to end the inning with Demmink stranded at third base.

Clemson opened the scoring in the top of the fifth as Chalk hit a single to left field to score Adrian Casanova and put the Tigers on top 1-0. With men on first and second and nobody out, Josh McLaughlin relieved Gemma and got the next three hitters out to end the inning.

Clemson starter Josh Cribb carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning before Brian Hastings recorded the Cougars' first hit of the game with a bunt single. Cribb got the next two hitters out to end the inning.

The Tigers added two more in the next inning to increase the lead to 3-0.

Clemson put men on first and third with no outs in the top of the eighth to chase McLaughlin. Reliever Danny Meszaros hit the first batter he faced, Casanova, to load the bases. An infield single by Demmink scored Andy D'Alessio and ran the lead to 4-0. The Tigers would add two more to go up 6-0.

The Cougars, who were held to a season-low two hits, got hits from Hastings and Coker.

Demmink and Chalk, who drove in two RBI apiece, led Clemson at the plate.

Cribb (8-4) pitched his third complete game of the season, giving up just two hits and striking out six, to get the win.

Gemma (7-4) got the loss for the Cougars, lasting four innings and giving up five hits and just one run.

The Cougars will face Oral Roberts in an elimination game at 3:00pm on Saturday afternoon.