No. 5 Clemson capitalized on timely hitting and strong pitching to secure a 6-1 victory over No. 12 Virginia Tech in their ACC Tournament opener Wednesday afternoon at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The win improves the Tigers to 43-15 on the season while the Hokies fall to 31-26.
Knaak Delivers Dominant Performance
Junior right-hander Aidan Knaak earned his ninth win of the season with a stellar six-inning performance, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out six batters. Knaak, now 9-1, threw 93 pitches with 58 strikes and demonstrated excellent command throughout the contest.
“When you face adversity, it’s important to flush it and move on. You can’t dwell on what happened before; it’s always about the next pitch. Whether it’s a home run or a mistake, focus on the next moment and take it pitch by pitch every inning.”
Pitcher, Aidan Knaak
The Tigers’ bullpen was equally impressive as McGovern provided two scoreless innings of relief before Allen closed out the ninth, striking out one batter in a perfect frame to secure the victory.
Early Offense Sets the Tone
Virginia Tech struck first when B. Watson connected for a solo home run to right field in the top of the first inning, giving the Hokies a 1-0 lead. However, Clemson responded immediately in the bottom half with three runs of their own.
The Tigers’ rally began when Purify advanced to second on a wild pitch by Virginia Tech starter Brett Renfrow, allowing Cannarella to score. Listi then delivered the big blow with a two-run homer to right field, putting Clemson ahead 3-1.
The Tigers added two more runs in the fifth inning when Listi doubled to left center, driving in both Priest and Purify to extend the lead to 5-1. Clemson’s final run came in the sixth inning on Cannarella’s sacrifice fly that brought Wentworth home.
Offensive Leaders Step Up
Purify led the Tigers’ offensive attack with a 3-for-4 day at the plate, scoring two runs. The sophomore second baseman reached base four times and was a catalyst at the top of the lineup.
Listi delivered a clutch performance, going 2-for-3 with a double, home run, and four RBIs. The left fielder’s production proved to be the difference in the game as he accounted for four of Clemson’s six runs.
“I think it just boils down to being ready to hit in certain situations, knowing yourself as a player and sticking to the approach that we kind of have from our coaching staff.”
Right Fielder, Dom Listi
Wentworth added two hits in four at-bats, including a double, while scoring a run. Cannarella contributed with a double and an RBI in his three at-bats.
Hokies’ Offense Stifled
Virginia Tech’s offense struggled to generate momentum against Clemson’s pitching staff. After Watson’s first-inning home run, the Hokies managed just three more hits the rest of the game. H. Cooke was the only other Virginia Tech player with multiple hits, going 2-for-3.
Brett Renfrow took the loss for Virginia Tech, dropping to 3-7 on the season. The right-hander allowed six runs on eight hits over 5.1 innings, striking out 10 but also walking two batters. Despite the strikeouts, Renfrow struggled with command at critical moments, including two costly wild pitches in the first inning.
Tigers Excel in Every Offensive Category
The Tigers posted a .303 team batting average (10-for-33) compared to Virginia Tech’s .125 (4-for-32). With runners on base, Clemson hit .333 (7-for-21) while the Hokies managed just .100 (1-for-10).
Clemson also demonstrated superior execution with runners in scoring position, converting 40.9% of their advancement opportunities (9-for-22) compared to Virginia Tech’s 10% (1-for-10). Perhaps most telling was the Tigers’ ability to deliver with two outs, hitting .333 (4-for-12) in those situations while the Hokies managed just .182 (2-for-11).
“It was a great way to start the tournament against a very good opponent in Virginia Tech—an athletic, well-coached team. To come out with the quality start from Aiden, solid defense, timely hits, and strong relief pitching was a recipe for success. We’re taking it one day at a time, and we’ll be ready to go tomorrow as well,”
Head Coach, Erik Bakich
Looking Ahead
The Tigers will have a one game rematch with NC State Thursday at 7 p.m. on ACC Network. NC State swept Clemson earlier this season.
With the victory, Clemson positions itself favorably in the ACC Tournament as they continue their pursuit of both conference honors and a high seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
