No. 19 Clemson, 4-0, continued its strong start to the 2026 campaign into this week, defeating the Charlotte 49ers, 11-1, in just seven innings. The pitching staff continued its excellent start to the season. With yesterday’s performance, the Tigers have allowed just one run in their last 26 innings of work.
No one on Clemson’s team is currently hotter than Nate Savoie, who went 3-for-4 in the game, with a single, double and a solo home run. His performance brought his season batting average to an impressive .733 and his season RBI tally to eight.
“He just looks like a guy who’s totally in control emotionally, which is great, and I think it really helps him … He’s tough to pitch, too, just because he can cover the whole field and he can cover the entire plate,” head coach Erik Bakich said after the matchup.
The Tigers’ starter, freshman Eston Simpson, also had an impressive performance in his collegiate debut, recording four scoreless innings. The right-hander allowed just two hits and two walks in his 50 pitches in the evening.
“It was basically opening day for Simpson … He really pitched out of some jams when he had to, but looked poised, looked confident and looked in control. That’s really what you want to see,” Bakich said.
After Simpson’s day was over, righty Nathan Dvorsky, lefty Brendon Bennett and freshman Landon Fowler each threw one inning of relief, striking out two, three and one, respectively.
The Tigers got off to a scorching hot start, tallying five runs in the home half of the first inning behind a Jacob Jarrell grand slam and a Ty Dalley sacrifice fly. The slam was Jarrell’s second home run of the season, as he tallied his seventh RBI of the young campaign.
Charlotte’s starting pitcher struggled to locate throughout his outing, lasting just 0.2 of an inning. Of the 23 pitches the senior threw, he was only able to deliver 10 strikes while walking three batters.
Clemson added on three more runs in the second behind three hits. Jarren Purify led off the frame with a walk before Savoie stayed hot with a base hit against the shift into right field.
After another pitching change, Luke Gaffney doubled down the third base line, driving in Purify. Just two batters later, Jack Crighton lined a base hit to left field, which drove in both Gaffney and Savoie.
The offensive barrage continued into the third inning, when Tryston McCladdie smoked a two-run homer to left field, sending home Purify and extending the Tigers’ lead to 10.
Savoie’s solo homerun came in the home half of the sixth inning, extending the Tigers’ lead to 11.
Charlotte tallied its lone run of the game in the top of the seventh inning, when center fielder Spencer Nolan lined a home run to left field, effectively spoiling the shutout for the Tigers.
The Tigers will be back in Doug Kingsmore Stadium over the weekend when they take on Bryant University in a three-game weekend series. Aidan Knaak will start for Clemson on Friday at 4 p.m., marking his second start of the season after throwing three scoreless innings against Army in his first appearance.
