Jack Crighton’s First Career Homer Lifts No. 2 Clemson over No. 17 Louisville, 7-6

Jack Crighton jogs towards the dugout. (Photo By Charles Mays/Tiger View Media)

On a crisp spring night at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, the No. 2 Clemson Tigers kicked off another highly-anticipated ACC weekend series, this time welcoming the No. 17 Louisville Cardinals. Two nationally ranked squads with postseason ambitions clashed under the lights in what turned out to be a back-and-forth thriller. With ace Aidan Knaak on the mound, Clemson leaned on grit, a massive momentum swing, and a bit of Jack Crighton magic to secure a 7-6 win and take game one of the series.

Let’s rewind the drama from a wild night in Tigertown.

Trading Blows Early

Things got off to a rocky start for Knaak and the Tigers. The Cardinals came out swinging in the top of the first, scoring three runs on just two hits but also capitalizing on two Clemson errors. Knaak did manage to sit down two on strikes, but Louisville landed the first punch.

Clemson wasted no time answering back. In the bottom half of the first, Collin Priest launched a 400-foot moonshot to right that cleared the Cajun Cafe, tying the game at three. Cam Cannarella (HBP) and Jarren Purify (fielder’s choice) were aboard for Priest’s eighth blast of the season.

But Louisville wouldn’t stay quiet. Two more runs in the second put them back in front, 5-3. The Tigers scratched one across in the fourth off a wild pitch after back-to-back singles from Josh Paino and Luke Gaffney. But a bases-loaded opportunity slipped away, keeping Louisville ahead by one.

Pitching Settles, Then Jack Crighton Steals the Show

After the early fireworks, Knaak settled in and showed why he’s Clemson’s ace. He retired the side in order in the third and fifth innings and allowed just one hit over his final two frames. Knaak wrapped up his outing with a solid line: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R (2 ER), 1 BB, and 7 K on 91 pitches. Jacob McGovern would come in to pitch for the Tigers

Still trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh, Clemson needed a spark. Enter Jack Crighton. The junior stepped up in the biggest moment of his career, launching a go-ahead three-run homer to center—his first career homer—and sending the home crowd into a frenzy. The Tigers broke ahead, 7-5.

Closing Time… Barely

Reed Garris took the ball in the eighth and ran into trouble quickly. After a strikeout, he surrendered back-to-back hits, prompting head coach Erik Bakich to call on his elite closer, Lucas Mahlstedt.

An error at first base allowed Louisville to load the bases. The Cardinals scratched across a run on a fielder’s choice, but Mahlstedt dug deep and fanned the final batter to preserve Clemson’s 7-6 lead heading to the ninth.

In the final frame, Louisville made things tense once more. Mahlstedt gave up a leadoff single, and a near-double play was spoiled by an errant throw. With the tying run on base, a deep fly ball threatened to flip the game—but Jack Crighton tracked it down at the wall to seal the deal.

Mahlstedt collected his 13th save of the season, extending his national lead and helping Clemson improve to 34-6 overall and 12-4 in ACC play. Jacob McGovern would get the win moving his record of the year to 2-0. 

Final Thoughts

This win showed a lot about Clemson’s resolve. Aidan Knaak bounced back from early defensive miscues and kept the Tigers within striking distance. The bullpen, led by Mahlstedt’s nerves of steel, held on when it mattered most.

Offensively, Clemson continues to thrive on timely power. Collin Priest remains a force at the clean up spot, but the story of the night was undoubtedly Jack Crighton. His first career home run couldn’t have come at a better time and if you’re Clemson, you have to love seeing him rise to the moment on a big stage.

There’s still work to be done in this series, but tonight proved one thing: these Tigers don’t flinch when down.