Wake Forest tops Clemson in baseball again

Clemson’s Tyler Slaton led off the game with a first-pitch home run, but that was the highlight of the day for the Tigers in a 7-3 loss to Wake Forest Saturday afternoon at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Wake Forest took the lead for good with four runs in the third inning, then added two in the fourth and one in the seventh to keep the Tigers at bay.

The Demon Deacons improved to 19-10 overall and 6-5 in the Atlantic Coast Conference by clinching their first series victory at Clemson since 1952. Wake Forest is 10-52 all-time at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Clemson fell to 12-13 overall – the worst start through 25 games in program history – and 4-7 in league play.

The Tigers also got off to a 4-7 start in 2011, but rebounded to win 13 of their final 19 league games and finish second in the Atlantic Division.

Wake Forest’s Will Craig continued to dominate the Tigers, both at the plate and on the mound. Craig, who scored three runs, drove in two and homered in an 8-2 win Friday night, went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and another homer on Saturday – his ACC-leading 10th home run of the season.

Craig (1-1) also earned the victory on the mound, allowing just four hits, one run and one walk with five strikeouts over six innings.

Clemson’s Slaton, who had three of the Tigers’ eight hits, had an RBI single in the seventh and Steven Duggar added a solo homer in the eighth, but that wasn’t enough against Wake’s Parker Dunshee, who tossed the final three innings to notch his second save of the season.

Clemson starter Brody Koerner (3-3) took the loss, allowing nine hits and five earned runs in 3.2 innings.

The series wraps up on Sunday at 1 p.m. Fans can purchase two reserved adult and two reserved youth tickets for $20. It also is “Sunday Funday,” with family friendly activities during the game throughout the stadium.