On a sun-drenched but chilly Sunday afternoon echoing with the crack of bats and roars of the crowd, the Clemson baseball once again showcased their indomitable spirit, rallying from behind to clinch an 11-7 victory over the Xavier Musketeers at the verdant expanse of Doug Kingsmore Stadium. This triumphant win solidified a series sweep for the ninth-ranked Tigers, who now boast an unblemished 3-0 record for the season, leaving the Musketeers searching for answers at 0-3.
“Sweeping a team is hard to do,” said Coach Erik Bakich. ” Xavier will be in a regional just like they were last year.”
The drama unfolded early as Xavier carved out a lead in the first frame, courtesy of Jared Cushing’s sharp two-out single. Clemson, however, would not be silenced. Bottom of the first, Cam Cannarella sparked the ignition with a streak-extending leadoff hit, promising continuity and pressure. Blake Wright thrashed a two-run triple to clear the bases. Then came home to score as Alden Mathes drove him home with an RBI groundout, reversing their fortunes to a 3-1 lead.
Blake was asked if there was pressure on scoring with bases load since they struggled in game 2
“There was no pressure but it definitely was a point of emphasis,” said Blake. “It was discussed in the scouting meeting and when we get scoring position like that, we need to execute. I thought we did a very good job of that today. “
We needed leadership and we got it from our Caption Blake Wright,” said Bakich. “He scored 3 runs and knocked in 3 runs.”
The intensity simmered as both teams traded punches, with the Musketeers battling to a 3-3 tie amid hearty cheers from their loyal supporters. But it was Xavier’s Matt McCormick who knocked a two-run single to push Xavier ahead 5-3 once more in the fourth, putting the pressure on the Tigers once again.
Yet, the Tigers were far from spent. In a dogged reply, Clemson clawed one back in the fourth through Andrew Ciufo’s bases-loaded walk—a small step signaling an impending storm. By the fifth inning, the storm broke with Wright’s sacrifice fly leveling the field, preceding Mathes’ flare that had him crowned hero with a two-run single, and the pendulum swung in Clemson’s favor, 7-5.
Not to be outdone, freshman sensation Jack Crighton singled home another run in the sixth. Xavier’s rebuttal was swift, With two runs added in the seventh inning, narrowing the lead to just one run, the intensity reached its peak.
Clad with resilience, Clemson mustered three incentive runs in the seventh, featuring Ciufo’s sacrifice fly amid missteps from Xavier’s defense that allowed two additional runs—a clear defender buckled under pressure, beautiful to some but heartbreaking to others.
Matthew Marchal, donning the Tiger stripes for the first time with a victorious performance (1-0), in his 3.0 innings, he faced 13 batters, striking out four and allowing one run. On the flip side, Xavier’s Jake Hooker (0-1) bore the brunt of the defeat, leaving room for introspection and growth.
Clemson’s bats culminated in a symphony of decisive hits. For Xavier, they too found moments of brilliance but less in frequency, their efforts dwarfed by the shadow of the ever-rising Clemson might.
As the shadows lengthened and the throngs of orange-clad fans drowned their exhilaration in cheers, the Tigers’ eyes now rested upon the horizon—Presbyterian lies in wait. The Tuesday skirmish looms, with further triumphs a whisper among echos.
The air at Doug Kingsmore Stadium has now settled— Catch the Tigers in action during their homestand as they take on Presbyterian at Doug Kingsmore Stadium this Tuesday at 4 p.m. Watch the game live on ACC Network Extra!
