Clemson Baseball: Tigers Hold Off Late Surge to Defeat Georgia Southern 10-8

Cam Cannarella flexes at second base. (Photo By Charles Mays/Tiger View Media)

Early Lead for the Clemson Baseball

No. 4 Clemson Baseball secured a 10-8 victory over Georgia Southern on Tuesday night at SRP Park, marking their first appearance at the venue since 2021. Key performances from Collin Priest, Tryston McCladdie, and Josh Paino helped power the Tigers past the Eagles in a game that featured plenty of offense.

Early in the game, the Tigers capitalized on five first-inning walks to take an early 2-0 lead. McCladdie added another run in the third with an infield single, but Georgia Southern responded in the fourth when Luke Odden’s two-out single off second base plated two runs, trimming Clemson’s advantage to 3-2.

Offensive Explosion in the Middle Innings

Clemson expanded its lead in the sixth inning with a series of clutch hits. Luke Gaffney’s RBI groundout doubled the lead to 4-2, followed by Collin Priest’s two-run single to push the margin to 6-2. The Eagles (17-11) responded in the bottom half of the inning, cutting the deficit to 6-4 with two runs of their own.

Josh Paino delivered the biggest hit of the night in the eighth, clearing the bases with a three-run triple to give the Tigers a 9-4 lead. Andrew Ciufo followed with a perfectly executed suicide squeeze bunt, scoring Paino and extending the lead to 10-4. Clemson gave up four runs in the ninth, making the final moments tense, but ultimately held on for the win.

Clemson’s Pitching Holds On

Talan Bell made the midweek start again for Clemson, tossing three innings while allowing two hits, one walk, and striking out one. The Tigers utilized six additional pitchers, with Joe Allen (3-0) earning the win after throwing 1.2 innings in relief. Lucas Mahlstedt recorded his ninth save of the season, the most in the nation, despite Clemson giving up four runs in the ninth inning to make the game closer than expected. Overall, Clemson’s pitching staff surrendered 11 hits, eight runs, seven walks, and struck out 10 batters in the victory.

Key Performances at the Plate

Josh Paino led the offensive charge with a two-hit performance, driving in three runs. Jack Crighton also contributed two hits and an RBI, while Collin Priest and Tryston McCladdie each recorded two RBIs. Andrew Ciufo added another run-scoring hit, and Cam Cannarella provided an extra-base hit with a double.

Looking Ahead

The Tigers now turn their focus to a three-game series in California, beginning Friday at 9 p.m. EDT on ACC Network Extra. Clemson will look to maintain their momentum as they continue their 2025 campaign.

Analyst’s Take

From an analytical perspective, this game showcased Clemson’s ability to capitalize on free passes early and deliver in clutch moments. The offense efficiently converted scoring opportunities, but the late-inning struggles on the mound could be a concern moving forward. While Lucas Mahlstedt remains one of the top closers in the country, Clemson will need to tighten up its bullpen depth as they face tougher competition. Their resilience in securing wins, however, is a testament to their championship potential. For more coverage on Clemson Athletics, check out the Tiger View Podcast, co-hosted by Gavin James and Dawson Smith.