DURHAM, N.C. — When he crossed home plate Thursday night, Drew Wharton was greeted by enthusiastic teammates Logan Davidson and Justin Hawkins. Just a few seconds before the senior outfielder launched a home run off Miami starter Jeb Bargfeldt that gave third-ranked Clemson a one-run lead at the time, but it did so much more.
In fact, it got the Tigers going.
Before Wharton’s home run went over the tall wall in left field at Durham Bulls Athletic Park and hit the roof of the Tobacco Road restaurant in Durham, N.C., Clemson had just three hits and one run off Bargfeldt though the first five innings in its 7-1 victory over the Hurricanes in the 2018 ACC Baseball Championship.