In game two of the weekend series, Clemson and Stanford went back and forth in a high-scoring affair, combining for 15 runs in the first three innings. However, Clemson took home the win, defeating Stanford 11-10, powered by homers from Collin Priest, Josh Paino and Jacob Jarrell.
In a game where Clemson used six different pitchers, Reed Garris and Lucas Mahlstedt shined. Garris pitched 2.1 innings, allowing no runs and striking out two, while Mahlstedt went three innings allowing no runs and striking out five.
Game highlights
Clemson began the scoring fest early, with Dominic Listi and Cam Cannarella working back-to-back walks to begin the frame. Collin Priest then brought everyone home in one swing of the bat, giving Clemson an early 3-0 lead.
The second inning was a different story for the Tigers, Darden let up back-to-back singles to begin, and both came around to score on a later two-out single from Ethan Hott. The flood gates opened as another single scored Hott, tying the game 3-3. A sure-to-be pop-out was dropped in right field by TP Wentworth, which scored another run. Stanford loaded the bases and brought another home on another single. This prompted a pitching change, as Joe Allen came in to relive Darden and struck out Brady Reynolds to leave the bases loaded. Stanford left the second inning on top, 5-3.
Clemson answered back in the bottom of the second, also scoring five runs on five hits. Josh Paino lead it off with a double, followed by Andrew Ciufo beating out an infield grounder. Listi’s perfectly placed bloop single to center field scored Paino, and Cannarella’s second walk loaded the bases. Purify tied the game on a fielder’s choice, setting up Priest. Priest delivered once again and gave the Tigers the lead back on a double down the right field line for his fourth RBI on the day. A walk with the bases loaded brings home another run to cap off a five-run third inning, with Clemson now leading 8-5.
Still in search of a quiet inning, the top of the third did not bring that. Allen was able to get a quick two outs before a throwing error put a runner on first. That was all Stanford needed, as Trevor Haskins launched a two-run homer to put Stanford within one again. However, the bottom of the third was quiet, as all three Tigers were retired in order.
Clemson’s pitching woes continued onto the fourth inning, where three different Tigers took the mound. A bases-loaded double evened the score, later followed by a bases-loaded single that drove in two more runs, pushing Stanford’s total into double digits.
The Tigers tied the game in the bottom of the fifth, courtesy of a Paino home run. Following the homer, Ciufo doubled to left and was brought home by Listi to tie the game ten-all.
Jacob Jarrell led off the bottom of the sixth with a moonshot to left center field to put the Tigers in front once again, his fourth home run in the last three games.
Stanford threatened in the top of the seventh, putting runners on the corners with no outs. Lucas Mahlstedt, who replaced Reed Garris after 2.1 innings, retired the next three Stanford batters in order with two strikeouts to maintain Clemson’s 11-10 lead, exiting the field to a roaring Doug Kingsmore Stadium crowd.
Mahlstedt closes out the game, earning the save and securing the series win for the Tigers. Garris picked up the win, his third of the season.
Up next
Clemson goes for the sweep of Stanford on Sunday at 3 p.m.
