CLEMSON, S.C. – The William & Mary baseball team made a resilient effort to even the series at No. 12 Clemson, but came up just short, 7-6, in an effort to erase a four-run deficit on Saturday evening. A three-run eighth inning put the Tribe (0-2) back in business, but Tigers' (2-0) Carson Spiers tossed 1.2 innings of no-hit ball for the save.
 
Senior Ryan Hall evened the game at 3-all on his second double of the night, before Clemson reclaimed the advantage for good. The Tigers used back-to-back two-run innings in the sixth and seventh for a 7-3 margin. Clemson loaded the bases in both frames to score the four runs on three combined hits. The four-run stretch was largely assisted by five drawn walks by the Tigers.
 
After striking out seven of his 14 W&M batters, Spencer Strider wore down in the top of the eighth. Two hit by pitches (Hall, Patrick Ryan) and a walk (Luca Farina) set up the comeback bid. A wild pitch from Strider brought Hall home, before he was replaced by Mat Clark. However, junior Hunter Smith did more damage with a two-RBI single up the middle before the inning was done.
 
Junior Nick Butts went three up, three down in the bottom half of the eighth, including two strikeouts, to keep it a one-run game. Nonetheless, Spiers returned the favor by retiring the Tribe side in order in the ninth.
 
Tribe Standouts
Starter Jamie Sara turned in a solid effort in his no-decision after allowing just two earned runs on three hits across five innings. Senior Robert White logged a scoreless inning with two strikeouts, similar to Butts. Smith and Hall were responsible for most of the offense with two hits apiece. Smith went yard to score the first run of the game in the second inning. The Caldwell, N.J., native finished with three RBI as the DH. Sophomore Brandon Raquet also pushed across a run with a single through the right side.
 
Inside the Numbers
- Sara administered three scoreless innings after fanning two batters and inducing six fly out and five grounders.
- The only error of the series was made by the Tribe in the fourth inning.
- The Tigers manufactured four of its runs in two-out situations.
- Strider was responsible for half of Clemson's 14 strikeouts. He also earned the win, despite being responsible four runs (all earned) on four hits.
- Freshman Aljo Sujak was dealt the loss after surrendering two runs (both earned) on two hits in 0.1 inning. 

Notes
The game was pushed back two hours due to rain in the area…Sara earned the first weekend start of his two-year career...Sophomore Matthew Trehub moved to catcher after starting at first base yesterday…Junior transfer Colin Lipke made his first start at second base – he served as the designated hitter in the opener…Smith's home run is the eight of his career and second for the Tribe this weekend…Junior Jason Waldman saw action in his first game of 2018…The Tribe had two players (Pearson, Hall) double twice in a game so far… Sujak and graduate transfer Andrew Burnick made their Green and Gold debut today…Butts made his first career appearance on the mound.
 
Up Next
The three-game series concludes on Sunday with a 3 pm first pitch.