Freshmen lead Clemson past 'Bama 8-6 and into CWS
Richie Shaffer hit two home runs, fellow freshman Dominic Leone pitched 5 2-3 strong innings, and Clemson held off a ninth-inning rally to beat Alabama 8-6 Monday and advance to the College World Series.
Clemson (43-23) won the third and deciding game of the NCAA Clemson Super Regional after almost squandering a seven-run lead in the final inning. Alabama (42-25) scored five runs in the ninth. But with the tying run at second base, Jake Smith, who had homered in the previous two games, flied out to left to end the game.
Leone (3-1) allowed three hits and one unearned run. Will Lamb, the third Clemson pitcher in the ninth, retired Smith for his second save.
Alabama's Nathan Kilcrease (8-3) allowed six runs on 11 hits in five innings.
Shaffer hit a solo homer in the fourth and a two-run shot in the seventh. Brett Booth had a two-run homer in the ninth for the Tide.