In a sun-splashed Sunday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, the Clemson Tigers clawed their way back to snatch a spectacular 6-3 victory over UNC Greensboro Spartans. The electrifying win extends the Tiger’s streak to a ninth consecutive win and polishes their record to an envy-inspiring 13-1, leaving the Spartans grappling with the aftermath of an 8-7 standing.
Jarren Purify emerged as the hero whose two-out, two-run single in the seventh rendered a viselike grip on the lead for the Tigers. Fans roared in unison as the ball jetted to destiny, forever etching Purify’s name in Clemson lore with an impressive 2-for-3 at-bat, contributing three invaluable RBIs.
Earlier in the game, the Spartans had nosed ahead with a run in the first and another in the fourth. But in the fifth inning, Clemson pulled off a double squeeze play by Purify. Two Tiger runners slid home to level the playing field. Cam Cannarella, stepping into the spotlight with a clutch two-out double, added fuel to the roaring Tiger comeback as he hit in the go-ahead run.
The Spartans, Mitchell Smith launched a solo home run, drawing an audible gasp from the crowd as the score leveled at 3-3. The tension was palpable, almost like the charged silence that hangs in the air moments before lightning strikes.
And strike it did. Will Taylor launched the ball into the Chapman Grandstand for his fifth homer of the year—an explosive start to the eighth inning.
On the mound, Matthew Marchal pitched five full innings, he stymied the Spartan efforts with a pitching line, accumulating five strikeouts and yielding only one earned run. Lucas Mahlstedt came on and dodged danger to clinch his first save wearing the Tiger stripes, etching three K’s over two tension-filled innings.
Up next, The Tigers will be hosting Manhattan in a two-game midweek series at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The series kicks off on Tuesday at 4 p.m., airing on ACC Network Extra.
