No. 3 Clemson Dominates Stanford in First-Ever ACC Matchup with 11-1 Run-Rule Victory

Cam Cannarella (Photo By Charles Mays/Tiger View Media)

A Historic ACC Matchup

For the first time ever, the No. 3 Clemson Tigers faced off against the Stanford Cardinal in a regular-season matchup, marking Stanford’s debut season in the ACC. Clemson entered the series with a dominant 31-5 overall record (9-3 ACC), while Stanford arrived at 18-12 (5-10 ACC), looking to make a statement.

With a promising pitching duel lined up between Clemson’s Aidan Knaak (5-0) and Stanford’s Joey Volchko (2-1), and freshman two-way player TP Wentworth getting the start in right field, the stage was set at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. After a 30-minute weather delay, the Tigers wasted no time asserting their dominance, rolling to an 11-1 run-rule victory in just seven innings.

Hot Start for the Tigers

Knaak set the tone early, pitching a hitless first inning with just one walk allowed. The Tigers’ offense immediately backed him up, as Cam Cannarella ripped a double off the right field wall. An error, a clutch RBI single from Collin Priest, and some errant pitches from Stanford helped Clemson jump out to a 2-0 lead after one inning.

In the second, TP Wentworth led off with a single and quickly stole second. After loading the bases, Dominic Listi brought in another run with a groundout to first, and Clemson extended its lead to 3-0. Meanwhile, Knaak continued to deal, striking out two in a clean third inning.

Tigers Pour It On

The offensive fireworks continued in the third as Jacob Jarrell launched a two-run blast to right-center, landing on top of the batting cage to give Clemson a 5-0 advantage. Stanford finally broke through in the fourth with a solo home run from Tatum Marsh, but Knaak remained in control, striking out two more batters. Clemson responded immediately, capitalizing on a double from Andrew Ciufo and a Stanford wild pitch to push the lead to 6-1.

After a quiet fifth inning from both teams, Clemson put the game out of reach in the sixth. The Tigers capitalized on a Stanford throwing error and a two-run double from Cannarella, followed by RBI hits from Purify and Priest. A hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded forced in another run, capping a massive five-run sixth inning that extended the lead to 11-1.

Closing It Out

With the game well in hand, Hudson Lee took over for Knaak in the seventh. Knaak finished his night with an impressive line: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 6 K on 95 pitches. Lee struck out the first batter he faced before a walk, but a 4-6-3 double play sealed the deal. With that, the Tigers secured a dominant 11-1 victory via the run rule.

Up Next

Clemson looks to keep the momentum going in Game 2 of the series, with first pitch set for 6:00 p.m. on the ACC Network.

Final Thoughts

This game showcased why Clemson is one of the top teams in the country. Aidan Knaak’s consistency on the mound, backed by a relentless offensive attack, left Stanford with little room to compete. The Tigers capitalized on Stanford’s defensive miscues and turned small opportunities into big innings. If Clemson continues this level of play, they should be able to dominate this series. Look for the Tigers to carry this energy from tonight into the rest of the series and beyond.