Ethan Darden emerged as the star of the day, showcasing a display of pitching prowess that powered Clemson to a nail-biting 3-2 win over Notre Dame. Recognized for its fierce competitors and electrifying atmospheres, the arena bore witness to a performance that fused both energy and precision in seven innings that can only be described as dominant.
The sophomore lefthander’s outing was one for the books: a career-high that not only lifted No. 2 Clemson to their fifth consecutive win but also cemented a robust lead in their ACC campaign, climbing to an admirable 27-3 overall, 9-2 ACC. For Notre Dame, the loss meant a drop to an even .500 at 14-14 overall, 2-12 ACC, struggling to find their foothold this season.
Darden now with a 5-0 record, painted corners and sent down batter after batter, cementing his place as a titan on the mound. Surrendering a mere five hits and an unearned run with zero tolerance for walks and serving up five strikeouts, there was little room for the Fighting Irish to mount a significant challenge.
This victory wasn’t just a matter of winning a game; it was a continuation of a relentless march as Clemson recorded its 15th consecutive regular-season weekend series victory since 2023, an impressive streak that includes 11 straight in the crucible of ACC regular-season play.
On the opposing end, Notre Dame’s Jack Radel (2-1) showcased a gritty effort but ultimately succumbed to Clemson’s might, giving away three hits and two runs over five innings, along with three walks and three strikeouts.
Notre Dame began the scoring in the third inning when Estevan Moreno’s sacrifice fly brought in the opening run and the Irish took a 1-0 lead. In the top of the 4th inning, Jacob Hinderleider led off the inning, launching his seventh homer of the season out of the park, stretching an impressive hitting streak to 10 games.
After Purify hit a deep fly ball that soared out to center field, Cam Cannarella stepped up to the plate and crushed a solo home run, marking his fifth of the season. This game-changing moment proved pivotal for Clemson as it propelled them into the lead in the fifth inning. The momentum continued to build when Blake Wright executed a perfect sacrifice fly in the latter part of the seventh, allowing a runner to cross the plate and extending Clemson’s lead to 3-1.
Notre Dame fought back and managed to score another run in the ninth inning, tightening the gap to a final score of 3-2.
With the series set to conclude on Sunday at 1 p.m. on ACC Network Extra, there is growing anticipation around whether Clemson can sustain this synergy of dominance and captivate viewers with another victorious chapter.
