No. 4 Clemson took care of business on Tuesday night, fending off a scrappy Citadel squad with a 6-4 victory at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. It was Josh Paino who provided the difference-maker, launching a clutch two-run homer in the fifth inning that put the Tigers ahead for good. With the win, Clemson improved to 20-2, while the Bulldogs dropped to 11-10.
Cam Cannarella wasted no time setting the tone, ripping an RBI single in the first inning to give Clemson an early lead. The Bulldogs answered in the third, capitalizing on a rare defensive miscue by the Tigers that allowed Cole Canty to cross the plate. Moments later, Travis Elliott found a gap down the right-field line, bringing home another run and giving The Citadel a 2-1 advantage.
Clemson responded with a counterpunch in the bottom half of the inning. Paino lifted a sacrifice fly to even the score before the Tigers reclaimed the lead on a two-out error that kept the frame alive. But The Citadel refused to go away quietly, tying things up once again in the top of the fifth on Lane Tobin’s run-scoring single.
That’s when Paino delivered. With a man on, he turned on a pitch and sent it soaring over the fence for his fifth home run of the season. The blast ignited the home crowd and gave the Tigers a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. The Bulldogs managed to cut the deficit to one in the sixth on Noah Cadiz’s RBI double, but Clemson’s bullpen kept them at bay the rest of the way. Jarren Purify tacked on an insurance run in the eighth with a perfectly placed two-out RBI single, sealing the deal.
Cannarella was the star at the plate, going a perfect 5-for-5 with an RBI, two runs scored, and his first stolen base of the season. Paino’s bat was pivotal, driving in three runs, including the game-winning homer. On the other side, The Citadel saw solid offensive performances from Tobin, who went 2-for-4 with a double, and Canty, who recorded a career-high two hits and scored twice.
Clemson’s pitching staff pieced together an effective outing, using five arms to keep the Bulldogs in check. Brendon Bennett got the start, tossing two innings while allowing two runs. Chayce Kieck followed with 2.2 innings of work, striking out three while giving up just one run. Luke Brown added a scoreless frame before Nathan Dvorsky took over, earning the win with 1.1 innings of relief. Lucas Mahlstedt slammed the door with two shutout innings, notching his seventh save of the season.
The Bulldogs used four pitchers in the loss, with Maddox Webb putting together the longest outing at three innings. He recorded a career-high five strikeouts but couldn’t escape without damage. Yates Bland took the loss after surrendering the go-ahead home run to Paino in the fifth.
Clemson finished with 10 hits to The Citadel’s eight, and despite a few defensive hiccups, the Tigers found ways to execute when it mattered most. The victory extended their strong start to the season and kept their momentum rolling as they prepare for the second game of the two-game series against The Citadel on March 19. First pitch is set for 6 p.m., with Clemson looking to continue its winning ways and The Citadel eager for a shot at redemption.
