DURHAM, N.C. \u2014 Zack Erwin totaled 11 strikeouts, while Clemson\u2019s batters recorded seven runs and 10 hits off Louisville ace Kyle Funkhouser as the Tigers knocked off the third-ranked Cardinals 7-2 in the ACC Tournament on Thursday.
\nWith the win Clemson is once again expected to make the NCAA Tournament for the 21st time in head coach Jack Leggett\u2019s 22 years.
\nThe win was the Tigers\u2019 fourth victory over a top 10 team in the last week. Clemson beat Florida State three times last weekend. The Tigers beat Louisville twice this season, including a 9-1 victory on May 2.
\nIt was the heart of Clemson\u2019s lineup that ran Funkhouser off after five innings. Steven Duggar, Tyler Krieger, Reed Rohlman and Chris Okey combined for six hits and four RBIs, while Weston Wilson and Robert Jolly drove in three more runs. Duggar, Krieger and Jolly each had two hits for Clemson.
\nThe Tigers (32-26) opened things up in the bottom of the first inning when Rohlman had a one-out single to centerfield that scored two runs and Jolly followed two batters later to score Rohlman from second. Rohlman had advanced to third on a double by Okey.
\nDuggar, who scored on Rohlman\u2019s single, got the rally going with a base hit through the right side. Krieger then reached on an error by Louisville third baseman Zack Lucas.
\nAfter Louisville answered with a run in the top of second inning, the Tigers got two more back in the bottom frame as Slaton led off with a double and scored on a sacrifice fly from Duggar for a 4-1 lead. Krieger then got a two-out single over third baseman\u2019s head to score Andrew Cox from second. That made the score 5-1.
\nClemson added two more runs in the fifth inning when Wilson doubled to centerfield to bring home Krieger and Okey. Krieger singled to right to lead-off the bottom of the fifth and Okey walked with one out. After Jolly reached on a fielder\u2019s choice, Wilson took a 1-2 pitch to the gap in left centerfield to drive in the two runs.
\nWith Clemson\u2019s offense providing plenty of run support, Erwin got stronger as the game went along. The lefty tied a season-high with his 11 strikeouts, including one in the fourth, two in the fifth and two in the sixth. He finished the afternoon allowing one run on six hits in eight innings of work.
\nLouisville (43-15) got its run in the second inning when Ryan Summers doubled to left field to score Will Smith. After that Erwin settled in and kept the Cardinals at bay.
\nThe story of the game was the Clemson offense, which for a second straight time against Funkhouser it produced seven runs. In two games against the potential top 10 draft pick, the Tigers have scored 14 runs (13 earned) off 17 hits. He has not made it past the sixth inning in either outing.
\nClemson is scheduled to play North Carolina in its third game in the tournament tomorrow starting at 3 p.m. North Carolina has been designated as the home team.<\/p>\n