Clemson Baseball stumbled in its series opener against NC State, suffering a humbling 14-4 loss via the ACC’s run rule in eight innings. The Tigers, ranked No. 2 nationally, saw their pitching and defense falter against the Wolfpack’s relentless offense, dropping to 36-8 overall and 13-6 in the ACC.
Clemson started the game on a high note, with senior Collin Priest launching a two-run homer in the top of the first to give the Tigers a quick 2-0 lead. It marked Priest’s ninth long ball of the season and seemed to set the tone for a strong outing. Unfortunately for Clemson, the early momentum was short-lived.
NC State responded in the bottom half with three runs, highlighted by a two-run single from Brayden Fraasman, who would go on to have a career day. From there, the Wolfpack took control, scoring in six of their eight innings at the plate.
The Tigers’ pitching staff struggled to contain NC State’s lineup, starting with Aidan Knaak. The sophomore right-hander, who entered the game with a 6-0 record, lasted just four innings, surrendering eight earned runs on 11 hits. Clemson’s bullpen didn’t fare much better, as four relievers combined to allow six more runs over the next four innings.
On the offensive side, Clemson couldn’t find its rhythm after the first inning. Andrew Ciufo’s solo homer in the fifth and a Jake Jarrell RBI single provided the only other highlights for a lineup that managed just seven hits on the night.
Meanwhile, Fraasman put on a clinic for the Wolfpack, going 5-for-5 with two home runs and seven RBIs. His solo shot in the sixth and a two-run blast in the eighth punctuated NC State’s offensive explosion, which included 19 hits overall.
Despite the lopsided result, the loss doesn’t erase Clemson’s strong season. The Tigers are now tied for second place in the ACC with the Wolfpack and have a chance to bounce back in the remaining two games of the series.
With the stakes high for ACC standings and NCAA tournament seeding, Clemson will need a quick turnaround in Friday night’s game to keep its postseason goals on track.
