Clemson improved to 19-1 on the season and 2-0 in the ACC following an 11-7 win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Saturday. The win extended Clemson’s win streak to 17, tied for fourth longest in program history.
Cam Cannarella went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored, while Tryston McCladdie and Collin Priest each hit home runs to outlast the Fighting Irish in game two of the series.
Starting pitcher Ethan Darden quickly retired the side in the top of the first before turning it over to the offense. The Tigers plated three runs on four singles from Listi, Cannarella, Jarrell and Bissetta that put the Tigers up early, 3-0.
Darden sat down the Fighting Irish in order again in the second while the Tigers added onto their lead. A triple from McCladdie, a double from Listi and another triple by Purify put two more runs on the board. Purify’s triple extended his hitting streak to 13 games. Cannarella brought Purify home with his second single of the game, then scored on Jarrell’s bases-loaded walk, pushing the lead to 7-0.
Darden ran into trouble in the third, allowing four runs on two hits and an error, trimming the Tiger’s lead to three. However, Clemson got three of those runs back. Cannarella, already with two singles on the day, connected for his third that scored Purify. Priest then launched a two-run home run to center field, putting the Tigers in double-digits.
Despite a rough third inning, Darden settled in and kept Notre Dame scoreless in the fourth. In Clemson’s turn, McCladdie sent a homer of his own out to right field to extend the lead even more.
Clemson handed the ball over to McGovern in the top of the fifth, who allowed three runs on a single, a hit by pitch, a walk and a double. The Tigers went down without a run for the first time in the game, as the score now read 11-7.
With what felt like Notre Dame creeping back into the game, Nathan Dvosrky and Reed Garris stepped up in relief, combining for 3.2 scoreless innings to secure the win. Dvorsky earned his third win of the year, while Reed recorded his second save.
Clemson will look to sweep their first ACC series in game three on Sunday. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.
