CLEMSON, S.C. – Early home runs from Chris Okey, Eli White and Steven Duggar helped power the Clemson Tigers to a series-opening 13-5 win over the Georgia Southern Eagles on Friday night.

The Tigers (26-24) scored five combined runs on 9 hits over the second, third and fourth innings to take an early 5-1 lead off of Eagle (27-22) starter Evan Challenger.

Challenger worked a quiet first inning and retired the side in order with three ground balls before allowing a two-run homer to Okey in the second inning. 

White and Duggar hit back-to-back home runs to lead off the third inning, and Robert Jolly plated a lead off single in the fourth inning with a two-out base hit to left field.

Challenger (5-2) was tagged with the loss after allowing five runs on 9 hits over 4.1 innings. He walked two batters and struck out one on 74 pitches.

Matthew Crownover threw a quality start, allowing three runs over seven innings of work. Crownover (9-1) allowed six hits, walked one batter and struck out eight to pick up his 9th win of the season. 

Georgia Southern got on the scoreboard in the second inning after Cody Lanford grounded into a fielder's choice with runners on the corners. Lanford was caught stealing to end the frame.

The Eagles cut the lead to three runs, 5-2, with a RBI ground out from Aaron Mizell in the top of the sixth inning, but the Tigers quickly jumped ahead 9-2 in the bottom half of the frame.

Reed Rohlman capped off the four-run frame with a two-RBI single to right field. 

The three-game non-conference series continues tomorrow with a 6:30 p.m. first pitch. Senior righthander Tripp Sheppard (4-2, 2.79 ERA) will get the start for the Eagles and will face Zack Erwin (4-4, 3.18 ERA).

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