The Clemson Tigers kept their hot streak alive on Friday night, March 14, 2025, with a gritty 2-1 win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. It was a game that had fans on the edge of their seats as Clemson notched its 16th straight victory, starting ACC play with a bang. The win boosted the Tigers’ impressive record to 18-1 overall and 1-0 in the conference, while Notre Dame dropped to 10-5 and 0-4 in ACC play.
Aidan Knaak was the star of the night. The Clemson right-hander delivered a lights-out performance, striking out a career-best 12 batters over seven scoreless innings. He allowed just one hit and one walk, showcasing incredible command as he retired the final 13 batters he faced.
“Yeah, I mean, Aidan Knaak and Lucas Mahlstedt were the pitching names of the game today—especially Aidan,” Head Coach Erik Bakich said. “He was just in total control, commanding all his pitches, working ahead, throwing a ton of strikes, and racking up strikeouts. That’s the kind of performance we’ve come to expect from him after seeing him dominate at such a high level last year. But this, honestly, was one of his best—one of anyone’s best—a fantastic way to kick off ACC play.”
Head Coach Erik Bakich
“I feel like attacking hitters made a big difference,” Knaak said after the game. “Everything was working—my pitches, my command. The defense was incredible, too. Tristan Bassett robbing that homer was a game-changer, and Peno’s play at first sealed it. Just an awesome team effort.”
Aidan Knaak
Lucas Mahlstedt stepped in late to secure the win, pitching the final 1.2 innings and earning his sixth save of the season. Drew Titsworth also made a brief but solid contribution, striking out one batter in a third of an inning. Clemson’s pitching staff was nearly untouchable from start to finish.
Notre Dame’s starter, Jack Radel, put up a fight, allowing just two runs (one earned) on four hits with four strikeouts over five innings. The Irish managed to collect five hits in the game, matching Clemson, but couldn’t turn those opportunities into enough runs to pull off the upset.
Clemson’s offense wasn’t flashy, but it got the job done. In the first inning, Jarren Purify was hit by a pitch, advanced on a groundout, and scored when Josh Paino hustled for an infield single. The Tigers added another run in the fourth inning when Jacob Jarrell delivered a clutch RBI single to bring home Paino, who had worked a leadoff walk and advanced on a passed ball.
The victory gave Clemson a 1-0 lead in the three-game series, with game two set for Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and the series finale on Sunday. It was a perfect way for the Tigers to open conference play, showcasing their resilience and ability to capitalize on key moments. With dominant pitching and timely hitting, Clemson looks ready to keep their winning streak alive and make a strong push this season.
