Clemson Looks to Build Momentum Against Wake Forest After Impressive Win
On Tuesday night, the Clemson Tigers took on the College of Charleston in a baseball game that showcased a standout performance from freshman left-hander Ethan Darden. With a resounding 10-3 victory, the Tigers improved their record to 16-10 while the Cougars dropped to 16-8.
Darden pitched an impressive 5.0 innings, striking out seven batters and earning his first career win. His accuracy was on full display, allowing only singles and giving up just one run and two walks. Meanwhile, Cougar starter Connor Campbell struggled, giving up three runs on two hits in just 2.2 innings pitched.
After a run from the Cougars in the second inning, the Tigers responded with a strong showing in the third inning, scoring four runs highlighted by run-scoring singles from Cam Cannarella, Will Taylor, and Blake Wright. The fourth inning saw the Tigers add two more runs on Taylor’s two-out single. In the top of the sixth, Cannarella’s infield single scored another run, followed by Caden Grice’s two-out, run-scoring triple to extend Clemson’s lead to 8-1.
Great team win! Though we play well in all phases. Ethan Darden gave us 5 great innings” said Coach Bakich “I thought offensively we got a lot of quality at-bats and lots of hard contact”
Coach Bakich
The Cougars managed to score two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning after an error, but Nick Hoffmann’s two strikeouts with the bases loaded ended the inning. The Tigers added two more runs in the ninth inning, including Grice’s impressive opposite-field home run.
Darden’s performance was particularly noteworthy given his freshman status, demonstrating his composure and ability to dominate batters with a variety of pitches. With seven strikeouts, he kept batters off balance throughout the game.
The victory over the Cougars sets up a crucial three-game series against No. 2 Wake Forest, which will begin on Thursday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Clemson’s recent form has been impressive, winning four of their last five games, with Grice emerging as a standout performer with five home runs in the last six games.
With Darden’s impressive pitching form, the Tigers will be confident going into the series against Wake Forest. The key to their success will be consistent scoring and solid defense. If they can maintain their momentum, they could come out on top in what promises to be a thrilling series.
