Under the lights at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, No. 14 Clemson kicked off its home schedule with a solid 6-2 win over Virginia Commonwealth University in the first game of the Clemson Baseball Invitational. The Tigers (3-1) fed off the energy of their home crowd, using timely hits and strong pitching to take down the Rams (1-4) and earned an early-season victory.
Clemson got on the board in the second inning thanks to some early baserunners. Tristan Bissetta led off with a single to left field, putting two runners on with no outs. Freshman Jack Crighton, making his first career start, took advantage of the opportunity and ripped a double down the left-field line to bring home Jacob Jarrell for the first run of the game.
Just a batter later, Jarren Purify hit a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Bissetta to score and giving the Tigers a 2-0 lead.
Purify played a key role all night, reaching base three times—once on a walk, once on a hit-by-pitch, and once on a single. His speed on the basepaths also made a difference, as he swiped a base and scored twice, including Clemson’s final run in the sixth inning.
VCU cut into the lead in the third inning after an error allowed Nick April-Gath to reach second base. He later scored on a groundout, making it a 2-1 game. The Rams continued to push in the fourth, as first baseman Sean Swenson launched a solo home run to left field, tying the game at 2-2.
But Clemson wasted no time responding. In the bottom of the fourth, the Tigers worked two walks before Dominic Listi stepped to the plate. Listi, one of Clemson’s hottest hitters to start the season, smashed a double to right field, driving in a run. Moments later, Luke Gaffney grounded out but still managed to bring home another runner, pushing Clemson’s lead to 5-2.
Listi continued his strong start to the season, finishing 1-for-2 with an RBI while also drawing a walk and getting hit by a pitch. His .500 batting average leads the team through the first four games.
Sophomore right-hander Aidan Knaak set the tone on the mound for Clemson. He pitched five strong innings, allowing just two runs on three hits while striking out eight. Though he gave up a solo home run and walked two batters, his command kept the Rams from gaining too much momentum.
When Knaak’s night ended, Clemson turned to reliever Drew Titsworth, who was nearly untouchable. The right-hander pitched a career-high four innings, striking out five while allowing just two hits and no runs. His dominant outing secured the win and gave the Tigers a major boost in a weekend filled with games.
“What Drew Titsworth did tonight saved our entire bullpen,” Clemson head coach Erik Bakich said after the game. Titsworth, though, was quick to credit his teammates. “I would give all the credit to the defense. The defense played great tonight.”
Although Clemson came away with the win, there are areas they’ll look to clean up. The Tigers finished with just five hits and relied on six walks to generate offense. They also struggled with two-out hitting, failing to produce a hit in those situations and leaving some runs on the table. Additionally, they struck out seven times, with key hitters like Cam Cannarella and Alden Paino having trouble making solid contact.
Despite those challenges, Clemson’s ability to deliver in key moments and play solid defense helped them stay in control throughout the game.
With their home opener in the books, the Tigers now prepare for a Saturday doubleheader. They’ll face North Carolina A&T at noon before a rematch with VCU at 4 p.m. Clemson will aim to build on its early-season success and sharpen its offense as the competition intensifies.
With a strong start at home, the Tigers are looking to carry this momentum forward and continue their push for a successful season.
