Clemson battled its way to another hard-fought win on Saturday afternoon, holding off VCU for a 4-3 victory at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The Tigers, now 5-1 on the season, used a huge third inning to take control and never looked back. With strong pitching and clutch hitting, Clemson picked up its third win of the Clemson Invitational, while VCU dropped to 1-5.
The game started with VCU striking first in the second inning. A walk and a double set the stage, and the Rams cashed in with a two-out RBI double from Trent Adelman to take a 1-0 lead. But Clemson didn’t let that last for long. The bottom of the third inning turned the game upside down as the Tigers unleashed a four-run rally that put them ahead for good.
Jarren Purify got things started with a single and wasted no time wreaking havoc on the bases. He stole second, then third, setting himself up to score when Dominic Listi smacked a single through the infield to tie the game.
The momentum kept rolling as Josh Paino reached on a fielding error, putting more pressure on VCU. That’s when Tryston McCladdie stepped up and crushed a bases-clearing double into the gap, sending two more runs home. McCladdie wasn’t done yet—he later scored on a wild pitch, giving Clemson a commanding 4-1 lead.
The Tigers didn’t add any more runs after that, but their pitching staff made sure they didn’t need to. VCU kept battling, scoring a run in the sixth after stringing together a couple of singles and a groundout to make it 4-2.
The Rams weren’t done yet, and in the eighth inning, Jacob Lee launched a solo home run that sent a jolt into the VCU dugout. Suddenly, it was a one-run game, and Clemson had to dig deep to hold on.
Ethan Darden got the start for Clemson and turned in a gritty performance. He pitched six strong innings, giving up two runs on six hits while striking out three. Even as VCU kept applying pressure, Darden stayed composed on the mound. “We’ve got a saying, it’s 71 and sunny,” a teammate said, describing Darden’s cool and collected approach.
After Darden’s day was done, Reed Garris took the ball and handled the final three innings. He gave up just one run on one hit, striking out three and locking down the win with a save.
VCU’s starter, Brian Yetter, had a rough outing, lasting only 2.2 innings while giving up four runs—two of them earned—on three hits. He also walked two and struck out two before handing things over to the bullpen.
Even though Clemson only collected five hits in the game, they made them count in that pivotal third inning. Listi, McCladdie, and Purify all played key roles in driving in runs and keeping the offense moving. The defense held strong, too, limiting VCU to seven hits and leaving five Rams stranded on base. The infield made sharp plays, and the pitching staff delivered in the biggest moments.
After the game, Clemson players had plenty of praise for McCladdie’s big performance. “He’s one of the hardest workers on the team, and the game rewarded him,” one teammate said.
Now, Clemson looks ahead to its final game of the Clemson Invitational. The Tigers take on North Carolina A&T on Sunday at 2 p.m., aiming to close out the weekend with another win. The game will be available on ACC Network Extra. Meanwhile, VCU will face North Carolina A&T earlier in the day at 10 a.m.
With the way Clemson has been playing, the team looks poised to keep rolling as the season picks up steam. Strong pitching, timely hitting, and a never-quit mentality have fueled this early success, and if Saturday’s win was any indication, the Tigers are just getting started.
