Aidan Knaak punched out 10 batters Thursday. Didn’t matter.
Virginia beat the Tigers 6-4 at Davenport Field at Disharoon Park. Clemson’s now 24-15, 5-11 in the ACC. Luke Gaffney and Jacob Jarrell each went deep and accounted for all four RBIs, but the lineup went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and Knaak didn’t get nearly enough help when the sixth fell apart on him.
Henry Zatkowski came in at 5-0. He left at 6-0. Seven innings, five hits, three earned, 10 strikeouts on 100 pitches. 89 degrees in Charlottesville Thursday, and the Tigers never made him sweat.
Gaffney put Clemson up 2-0 in the top of second inning. Crighton singled, stole second, and Gaffney sent a 410-foot shot to deep left for his fourth home run of the year.
Then bottom of the second a passed ball moved two runners up for UVA, Gracia got a first-pitch fastball and drove it 362 feet into left for a three-run shot, his 12th, and the Cavaliers led 3-2.
Knaak held Virginia scoreless the next three innings.
Jarrell pulled it even in the top of the sixth with a 415-foot solo shot to left field, his 15th.
Tied at three.
Tiroly singled to open the bottom half. Didawick reached on a fielder’s choice. Knaak plunked Johnson, walked Sam Harris on four straight, and the bases were loaded with Weatherspoon at the plate. He went the other way. Right-center gap, a double, three runs scored. 6-3.
Dylan Harrison and Drew Titsworth combined for 2.2 scoreless innings out of the pen for Clemson after that, but there was nothing to protect.
Clemson got one back in the eighth. McCladdie worked a walk, Savoie singled to push him to third, and Jarrell’s fielder’s choice scored McCladdie. 6-4. Fultz Jr. punched out to end it.
In the ninth, Lichtenberger singled through the left side, Gaffney followed with a single to center. Two on, one out, Tyler Kapa on the mound. Jackson Moore flied out to left. Clavon grounded out to third, unassisted.
Clavon went 0-for-5. Fultz Jr., 0-for-4. Moore, 0-for-3. Six men left on base. Three free passes in the sixth gave Weatherspoon his opening, and he punished it. 1-for-7 with RISP. At 5-11 in the ACC, Clemson doesn’t have many more games to figure this out.
Knaak fell to 2-4. Zatkowski’s 6-0.
The series at No. 9 Virginia continues Friday night.
