The No. 14 Clemson Tigers hosted the VCU Rams to kick off their inaugural Clemson Baseball Invitational at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, defeating them 6-2.
After suffering a 15-5 run-rule loss to Ole Miss earlier this week, the Tigers (3-1) desperately needed a morale boost heading back home to Clemson.
The Rams (1-4) had the game within striking distance until Indiana State transfer Dominic Listi crushed a ball to right field in the fourth inning, sending Andrew Ciufo to third base and Jarren Purify in for a run. Ciufo also scored the next play, putting Clemson up 5-2 and never looking back.
Listi has now recorded six hits, five runs and eight RBIs with a lone strikeout in the first four games of the season.
“We have a great foundation approach,” Listi said. “Physically and mentally, we just try our best to bring that out there and execute that every single day.”
Head coach Erik Bakich seems to have hit the nail on the head with transfers, as Listi and California Baptist transfer Josh Paino are statistically the two best hitters on Clemson as of right now and have shown no signs of slowing down to start this 2025 college baseball season.
“Grad transfers, their last shot at college baseball. They want to be a part of a winner,” Bakich said. “I love the grad transfer. That’s kind of who we’ve gravitated to the most … just above that mentality of the grad transfer that they got one shot at college baseball, and they’re willing to do anything and everything … being a really good player is half of it, but being a great teammate is maybe even the bigger half, and we’ve been fortunate that these guys wanted our type of program.”
While Listi may have been the cherry on top of the Tigers’ imposing offensive night, outfielder Jack Crighton got it started earlier in the second inning, hitting a double and scoring Jacob Jarrell to put them up 1-0.
Purify would then step up to the plate and hit a sacrifice fly to center field, sending Tristan Bissetta home and giving the Tigers a 2-0 lead heading into the top of the third inning.
Starting pitcher Aidan Knaak had a strong performance after letting up four earned runs against No. 19 Oklahoma State in the season-opener. In his second start of the season, the 2024 Freshman All-American threw five innings, taking home his first win of the season. While he had a few miscues, letting up two earned runs, Knaak still recorded a season-high eight strikeouts.
Drew Titsworth would come in to relieve Knaak and had one of best games of his young career, pitching through four innings and registering a career-high five strikeouts.
“He was pitching so well, and we just thought this a perfect opportunity to extend him, see how far he can go, and preserve the bullpen for a doubleheader and a game on Sunday,” Bakich said. “So with three games in the next two days, having him do what he did put us in a really good spot.”
