Clemson Tigers Baseball: Tigers Complete Doubleheader with a WIN over VCU

Andrew Ciufo swings away in Clemson's win over North Carolina A&T. (Photo By: Charles Mays/Tiger View Media)

Clemson Tigers Baseball vs VCU Quick Look

The Clemson Tigers squared off against the VCU Rams in the second game of today’s doubleheader at the Clemson Baseball Invitational. After a 6-2 win over VCU in their previous encounter, the Tigers returned to the field following an earlier 12-7 triumph against North Carolina A&T. The evening’s contest ended in a tight 4-3 victory for Clemson, boosting their season record to 5-1.

Starting Pitcher and Early Action

Ethan Darden took the mound for Clemson in game two, setting a positive tone with a flawless first inning that included a strikeout. In the bottom of the first, Clemson’s opening batter Dominic Listi was retired with an out at third base, followed by Josh Paino’s strikeout and a lineout from Tryston McCladdie at third base.

VCU struck first in the top of the second inning with an RBI double into the right-center gap, putting them on the board 1-0. Darden quickly countered by closing out the inning with another strikeout.

Offensive Surge in the Third Inning

Clemson’s bats heated up in the bottom of the third inning. TP Wentworth, making his center field debut, struck out to begin the frame. Jarren Purify then delivered an infield single and stole both second and third bases, setting the stage for Listi’s timely RBI single that tied the game at 1-1. Although Paino reached on an error, McCladdie emerged as the hero with a two-run double that pushed Clemson ahead 3-1. Later, McCladdie advanced on a groundout and eventually scored on a wild pitch, extending the margin to 4-1.

Solid Pitching and Defensive Stands

Ethan Darden maintained his strong performance through the third inning, securing key strikeouts, a pickoff, and a groundout. His efforts continued into the fourth and fifth innings, during which he recorded consecutive double plays to stifle any VCU momentum. In the sixth inning, VCU chipped away at the lead with back-to-back hits and a groundout that trimmed the deficit to 4-2, but Darden quickly regained control by retiring the following batter.

Late-Inning Resilience

Clemson’s head coach, Erik Bakich, introduced Reed Garris in the seventh inning, a move that paid off as Darden finished with 6.0 innings pitched, six hits allowed, two runs, three strikeouts, and three walks. Garris contributed a scoreless seventh inning with one walk and a strikeout. VCU made a brief push in the top of the eighth with a solo home run, narrowing the gap to 4-3. However, Garris responded with a flyout and another strikeout, and despite Clemson loading the bases later in the inning, a flyout from Paino halted further scoring. In the final frame, Garris effectively closed out the game with a strikeout, a fly out, and a groundout, earning his first save of the season.

Season Implications and Next Up

With the win, Clemson not only secured the victory in a hard-fought game but also swept their doubleheader, moving to a 5-1 record. Notably, the Tigers achieved this success without key lineup contributors Cam Cannarella and Andrew Ciufo. The Tigers now look ahead to a rematch with North Carolina A&T at 2 p.m. tomorrow, concluding the Clemson Baseball Invitational. The upcoming game will be available for viewing on ACC Network Extra.