The No. 3 Clemson Tigers showcased their offensive firepower and pitching prowess Friday night, cruising to an 11-1 victory over Stanford in the opener of a three-game series at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The win marked Clemson’s seventh consecutive victory, improving their record to an impressive 32-5 overall and 10-3 in ACC play. Meanwhile, Stanford fell to 18-13 overall and 5-11 in conference action. The game concluded after seven innings due to the ACC’s 10-run mercy rule.
Early Offense Sets the Tone
Clemson wasted no time asserting control, scoring in five of their six innings at the plate. The Tigers struck first with two runs in the opening frame, highlighted by Collin Priest’s RBI single. Dominic Listi added another run in the second inning with a groundout, while Jacob Jarrell extended Clemson’s lead in the third inning by launching his eighth home run of the season—a two-run shot—to make it 5-0. Stanford managed to get on the board in the fourth inning with Tatum Marsh’s solo homer, but Clemson quickly answered back in the bottom half of the inning, capitalizing on a two-out wild pitch to push their lead to 6-1.
“Defensively, we played well and turned a couple of big double plays. Offensively, we scored in five of our six innings, with a big inning in the sixth. We got contributions up and down the lineup—everybody got on base.”
Head Coach Erik Bakich
Explosive Sixth Inning Seals Victory
The Tigers exploded for five runs in the sixth inning to put the game out of reach. Cam Cannarella started the rally with an RBI double, followed by Jarren Purify’s run-scoring single and Priest’s second RBI hit of the night—a double. Josh Paino capped off the scoring spree by drawing a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch, solidifying Clemson’s dominance.
Pitching Excellence
Aidan Knaak (6-0) delivered a stellar performance on the mound for Clemson, allowing just two hits and one earned run over six innings while striking out six. His command kept Stanford’s offense in check throughout the game. On the other side, Cardinal starter Joey Volchko (2-2) struggled, surrendering seven runs (six earned) on six hits and five walks across five innings.
Looking Ahead
The Tigers will aim to clinch the series Saturday evening at 6 p.m., with coverage available on ACC Network. With momentum firmly on their side, Clemson looks poised to continue their dominant run as one of college baseball’s elite teams this season.
