The Clemson Tigers continued play in the Clemson Invitational on Saturday, sweeping their competition with a 12-7 victory over North Carolina A&T and a 4-3 win over VCU.
Game 1:
In the first game of the doubleheader, the Tigers rallied to defeat North Carolina A&T, 12-7. Each of the nine batters in Clemson’s starting lineup tallied at least one hit. Clemson also outhit the Aggies 16-7.
Though the Tigers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first, North Carolina A&T then stunned Clemson for six runs in the third inning, sending 10 batters to the plate. The frame started with a solo home run from Andrew Tinsley, which led to a barrage of baserunners. The Aggies were able to chase starting pitcher Jacob McGovern out of the game after just 2.3 innings of work. This contest was the first start of the lefty’s career.
However, the Tigers would not let the Aggies’ solid offensive inning go quietly, as they plated 5 runs of their own in the home half of the frame. First baseman Collin Priest drove Cam Cannarella home with an RBI single to right field, immediately followed by a sacrifice fly to center field from Jack Crighton. Later in the frame, Dominic Listi was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to drive home another.
After the third, Clemson only allowed one more run to the Aggies, as the bullpen kept North Carolina A&T in check the rest of the way. After McGovern exited, Nathan Dvorsky, B.J. Bailey and Lucas Mahlstedt combined for 6.7 innings of two-run baseball.
In the home half of the eighth inning, Luke Gaffney provided an insurance run via a solo home run to left field, the Tigers’ first of 2025. Clemson had failed to strike for a homer in each of its first four games of the season. The Tigers would go on to tally three runs in the eighth inning, stretching their lead to five.
Game 2:
In the second game, Clemson took a close contest with VCU, 4-2.
Clemson starting pitcher Ethan Darden turned in a quality start, successfully navigating six innings of work while allowing two earned runs. Darden struck out three, while also walking the same amount.
The Tigers scored all of their runs in the third inning, starting with a single up the middle from Listi, scoring Jarren Purify who had previously beat out a ground ball to shortstop for an infield single. Just two batters later, Tryston McCladdie doubled to left-center, scoring two more. McCladdie would later go on to score on a wild pitch.
Clemson allowed only two runs throughout the contest, which came across individually in the top of the second and the sixth.
The Clemson pitching bullpen finished the game strong, tallying three innings of scoreless baseball. Reed Garris was the only additional pitcher needed, striking out three and allowing just one run.
