The Clemson baseball team put on an impressive show Friday night at Doak Field, defeating the NC State Wolfpack with a final score of 10-2. Billy Amick was undoubtedly the star of the game, going 4-for-5 with two home runs, a double, and five RBIs, while Ethan Darden pitched an impressive 6.0 innings, giving up only one run and no walks. With this win, the Tigers now have a 1-0 lead in the series, improving to 23-16 overall and 7-9 in the ACC, while the Wolfpack dropped to 25-12 overall and 8-10 in ACC play.
Amick wasted no time making his presence felt, crushing a three-run homer in the top of the first inning. NC State managed to score a run on a groundout in the bottom of the first, but it was clear from the start that Clemson was in control. In the third inning, Cooper Ingle extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a two-run homer, his fifth of the year. Benjamin Blackwell then hit a two-out, run-scoring single in the fourth inning, followed by Cam Cannarella’s deep flyball that fell to score another run, giving Clemson a comfortable 7-1 lead.
In the sixth inning, Blackwell laced a run-scoring single, then Amick belted a two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning, his second long ball of the game and sixth of the season. NC State managed to score a run in the bottom of the seventh inning, thanks to Clemson’s first two balks of the season, but it was too little, too late.
Darden was in top form, earning the win by matching his career high for innings pitched. He gave up eight hits, one run, and no walks with three strikeouts. NC State starter Logan Whitaker suffered the loss, surrendering 10 hits, eight runs (seven earned), and no walks with six strikeouts in 5.1 innings pitched.
Overall, it was a solid team effort by the Tigers, with Amick leading the charge. His impressive hitting performance included two home runs, a double, and five RBIs, making him a force to be reckoned with in the game. Darden was equally impressive, showcasing his pitching prowess by limiting the Wolfpack to just one run and no walks.
As the series continues on Saturday, it will be interesting to see if Clemson can maintain their momentum and secure another victory over the Wolfpack. If they can continue to deliver performances like the one we saw on Friday night, they could be in for a successful season. With Amick and Darden leading the way, anything is possible for the Tigers.
