In a dominant four-game series over the weekend, No. 10 Clemson swept La Salle in the program’s first-ever meeting, outscoring the Explorers 52-12 and delivering three run rule victories.
With the sweep, Clemson improved to 15-1 on the season and extended its winning streak to seven games.
Friday
The Tigers opened the series with a 14-1 run-rule victory, highlighted by Tryston McCladdie’s three-run homer in the third inning.
La Salle struck first with a solo home run in the top of the first, but Clemson responded immediately, plating four runs in the bottom half of the inning to take control.
Dylan Harrison earned his first career win after pitching four innings, allowing just one run while striking out five. Justin LeGuernic followed with three innings of relief, surrendering only one hit to secure his first career save.
Along with McCladdie’s three RBIs, Jarren Purify, Bryce Clavon, Luke Gaffney, Tyler Lichtenberger, Jacob Jarrell, Ty Dalley and Jay Dillard each drove in runs for Clemson.
Saturday
In game one of Saturday’s doubleheader, Clemson held on for a 6-4 victory despite committing three errors in the field.
Michael Sharman followed up his complete-game performance against South Carolina last week with another strong outing, striking out eight over five scoreless innings. He allowed no runs and no walks to earn his fourth win of the season.
Gaffney’s two-RBI double in the third helped Clemson build a 4-0 lead by the fifth inning. However, La Salle capitalized on two Clemson errors to score twice and trim the deficit.
Another Tiger error allowed the Explorers to pull as close as 5-4 in the eighth, but Jay Dillard added an insurance run later in the inning to seal the win.
Game two of the doubleheader was a much stronger performance, as Clemson once again needed just seven innings to run-rule the Explorers, 16-4, and cap off the day.
An eight-run fourth, including Purify’s first homer of the year, powered the offensive surge as every Clemson starter recorded a hit.
La Salle briefly showed signs of life with a two-run homer in the top of the second, but the Explorers’ pitching staff was unable to slow Clemson’s explosive lineup.
Nate Savoie led the Tigers with three RBIs on two hits, including a double.
Six Clemson pitchers combined to hold La Salle to four runs on five hits while striking out 10.
Sunday
Just 18 hours later, Clemson nearly replicated that performance, finishing the sweep with another seven-inning, 16-run outburst.
Purify launched his second home run of the series — a three-run shot — and finished with four RBIs on the day.
Savoie put the cherry on top with a seventh-inning grand slam, bringing his RBI total to six in the game.
Once again, La Salle briefly grabbed momentum with a two-run homer in the second inning to take the lead, but Clemson quickly regained control and never looked back.
Dion Brown earned his first win of the season, pitching three scoreless innings while striking out three.
The weekend’s top performers:
Savoie: 7-for-13 (.538), 1 HR, 2 2B, 10 RBI
McCladdie: 9-for-17 (.529), 2 HR, 6 BB, 0 K, 8 RBI
Dillard: 7-for-15 (.467), 4 2B, 1 HR, 7 RBI
The Tigers will travel to Georgia Southern on Tuesday to take on the Eagles at 6:30 p.m.
