The No. 10 Clemson Tigers earned a convincing 13-6 victory over the No. 8 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers on Wednesday night, thanks to a seven-run third inning that proved to be too much for Coastal Carolina to overcome.
Clemson Tigers Scoring
Clemson got on the board early, with Billy Amick driving in a run with a two-out single in the top of the first inning. The Tigers extended their lead in the second inning thanks to a leadoff home run by Derek Bender.
But it was the third inning where Clemson really broke the game open. After loading the bases with nobody out, Caden Grice hit a line drive that was misplayed by Coastal Carolina’s right fielder, allowing two runs to score. Benjamin Blackwell then drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 4-0 Tigers.
But the real damage came from Jacob Jarrell, who belted a grand slam to center field, giving Clemson an 8-1 lead. It was Jarrell’s fifth home run of the season, and it put the game out of reach for Coastal Carolina.
The Chanticleers did manage to score a run in the bottom of the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly, but Clemson responded with two unearned runs in the top of the fifth inning, highlighted by Cam Cannarella’s sacrifice fly.
Amick added to Clemson’s lead in the top of the sixth inning with a two-run homer, his ninth of the year. Coastal Carolina tried to mount a comeback in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring three runs to cut the lead to 12-5.
But Clemson wasn’t done yet. Caden Grice hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning, his 12th of the season, to make it 13-5 Tigers. Coastal Carolina scored again in the bottom of the eighth inning, but Clemson put the game out of reach with two more runs in the top of the ninth inning.
Overall, it was a dominant performance from Clemson. The Tigers outhit the Chanticleers 10-7, and they got solid pitching from their bullpen. Joe Allen earned the win by pitching a scoreless third inning with two strikeouts, while Bryce Shaffer suffered the loss.
The win improved Clemson’s record to 32-17, while Coastal Carolina fell to 30-17. The Tigers have now won both games of the home-and-home series against the Chanticleers by a combined score of 29-12.
For Clemson, the win was a much-needed confidence boost heading into a key three-game series against Virginia Tech. The Tigers are currently in second place in the ACC Atlantic Division, and they’ll need to keep winning if they want to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
But for now, they can enjoy their dominant victory over a top-10 opponent. The seven-run third inning was a thing of beauty, and it showcased just how dangerous Clemson’s offense can be when they’re firing on all cylinders.
Jarrell’s grand slam was the highlight of the game, and it was a testament to his power and ability to come through in clutch situations. The Tigers will need more of that from him down the stretch if they want to make a deep run in the postseason.
But it wasn’t just Jarrell who had a big game. Amick and Grice both hit home runs, and the Tigers got production up and down the lineup. That kind of balance will be crucial as they face tough opponents in the coming weeks.
Importance of the Win
The win over Coastal Carolina was also important because it showed that Clemson can beat top-tier teams. The Chanticleers are one of the best teams in the country, and they’ve been a thorn in the Tigers’ side in recent years. But Clemson was able to handle them with relative ease, and that bodes well for their postseason aspirations.
Of course, there’s still work to be done. Clemson will need to play at a high level to beat Virginia Tech on the road this weekend, and they’ll need to keep winning if they want to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
But for one night, they can celebrate a dominant victory over a top-10 opponent. The seven-run third inning was a thing of beauty, and it showed just how dangerous Clemson’s offense can be when they’re firing on all cylinders.
If they can keep that kind of momentum going, there’s no telling how far they can go. But for now, they can enjoy a well-deserved victory over one of the best teams in the country.
