The No. 4 Clemson Tigers delivered a commanding performance on Saturday afternoon, overpowering the California Golden Bears with a 13–3 victory at Stu Gordon Stadium. This decisive win not only secured the series for Clemson but also improved their season record to 29–5 overall and 8–3 in ACC play. The game concluded after seven innings due to the 10-run rule, underscoring the Tigers’ offensive dominance.
“Just proud of the way we came out and our effort early. We feel like that kind of performance has been coming—we’ve been hitting balls hard, but hadn’t really had that explosion until today. The long ball, taking walks, hitting the ball hard—those were all great things happening today, and it was a total team effort from start to finish.”
Head Coach Erik Bakich
Explosive Start Sets the Tone
Clemson’s offense ignited early, erupting for six runs in the first inning. The highlight was a grand slam by designated hitter Collin Priest, marking his sixth home run of the season. Jacob Jarrell and Josh Paino each contributed solo homers, their fifth and sixth of the year, respectively, showcasing the team’s power at the plate.
“No bigger hit than Colin Priest’s grand slam in the first,” said Coach Bakich. “That just kind of broke the ice, gave us a little breathing room.”
The offensive onslaught continued in the second inning, with the Tigers adding seven more runs to their tally. Priest and center fielder Cam Cannarella delivered run-scoring doubles, further extending the lead. The inning was capped off by a three-run homer from third baseman Andrew Ciufo, his fourth of the season, pushing Clemson’s advantage to a staggering 13–0.
Pitching Performance
On the mound, left-hander Ethan Darden (4–2) delivered a solid performance, pitching six innings and allowing three runs on five hits, with one walk and one strikeout. His ability to maintain composure and control after the substantial lead allowed the Tigers to cruise to victory. California’s starter, Gavin Eddy (2–2), struggled significantly, surrendering six runs on five hits in just one inning of work, which set a challenging tone for the Golden Bears.
“Darden gave us a quality start and went six strong, then Dvorsky finished it up well,” said Bakich. Just proud of the way we came out—our energy and execution early really set the tone for the game.”
California’s Response
The Golden Bears managed to get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning with a solo home run by Dominic Smaldino. They added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings, but these efforts were insufficient to overcome Clemson’s early offensive explosion.
Looking Ahead
The series finale is scheduled for Sunday at 4 p.m. EDT and will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra. Clemson will aim to complete the sweep and further solidify their standing in the ACC. Fans can anticipate another competitive matchup as the Tigers continue their pursuit of excellence this season
