CLEMSON, S.C. - The No. 5 Clemson Tigers were just too much for the CSU baseball team, who fell by a score of 19-1 to the Tigers at the First Pitch Invitational in Clemson, S.C. on Saturday afternoon.

Brandon McKinney went 1-for-2 with a run, while Jaren Sustar and Nick Chinners each went 1-for-3. Sustar also picked up CSU's lone RBI of the game. The Bucs finished with four hits.

Anthony Markham got the start and took the loss for the Bucs, giving up 10 runs off of six hits in 2.1 innings. Matt Witt came in to relieve him, giving up five runs on three hits in 2.0 innings. Levi Mauldin gave up three hits, while George Shaefer gave up six in two innings.

David Haselden got the win for the Tigers, giving up one run on four hits while striking two. Matt Campbell also struck out two batters. Chris Epps was 3-for-3 with three runs and two RBI. Richie Shaffer was 2-for-2 with four runs and RBI. The Tigers had 19 runs and 17 RBI.

Epps singled to right field and made it to third on a double by Brad Miller. Jeff Schaus then drove Epps home when he lined out to centerfield, putting the Tigers up 1-0. Miller advanced to third on the play, and was then driven home on a single by Shaffer to make it 2-0. Hinson also singled to the right side, and both Shaffer and Hinson were able to pick up an extra base on an error by the Bucs. A throwing error brought Shaffer home, making 3-0. John Hinson stole third base then came on a sacrifice fly by Spencer Kieboom to give Clemson a 4-0 lead after the first inning.

Epps and Schaus were both walked in the second inning, with Epps heading to second on a sac fly before stealing third. Shaffer walked to load the bases before Hinson stepped up to the plate and hit a grand slam to put the Tigers ahead 8-0 in the second inning.

McKinney tripled to right field to give the Bucs their first hit of the day before Brantley Meier singled to third. Sustar singled to left center, driving McKinney home to put the Bucs on the board in the third inning at 8-1.

However, the Tigers didn't let up. Will Lamb walked to get on base then stole second. Phil Pohl made it to first and Lamb advanced to third on an error by the Bucs. Pohl then stole second right before Epps tripled down the right field line, driving in Pohl and Lamb to make it 10-1 at the end of the third.

Clemson's Shaffer walked two in the bottom of the fourth and made it to second on a wild pitch. Kieboom singled, sending Shaffer to third before also heading to second on a wild pitch. Shaffer scored on a sac fly by Lamb to put the Tigers ahead 11-1 before Pohl hit a two run homer to make it 13-1 at the end of the fourth.

Epps singled to get on base and made it to second when Miller was walked. Shaffer singled to put Epps on third and Miller on second before Hinson drove Epps in to pick up the Tigers' 14th run of the day. Miller scored on a wild pitch to make it 15-1 in the fifth inning.

Derek Smith and Walt Quattlebaum both got on base in the top of the sixth, but the Bucs couldn't bring them home. Levi Mauldin held the Tigers to just one hit in the sixth, while George Schaefer replaced him in the seventh and also gave up just one hit and no runs.

Clemson's Jon Surber, Dominic Attanasio and Steve Wilkerson all hit singles to get on base before Joe Costigan drove Surber home to make it 16-1 in the bottom of the eighth. Jon McGibben was hit by a pitch on the next at-bat, bringing home Attanasio to put the Tigers up 17-1. Jay Cox then drove home Wilkerson to give Clemson the 19-1 win.

The Bucs will face Cincinnati at Flour Field in Greenville, S.C.

CSU vs. Clemson Photo Gallery