CLEMSON, S.C. – No. 3 Clemson scored at least one run in each of the first five innings and pulled away with six runs in the eighth inning in its 12-5 victory over Coastal Carolina in the Clemson Regional at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Sunday night. The Tigers, who won the regional with a 3-0 record, upped their record to 44-14 on the season. The Chanticleers, who were 2-2 in the regional, dropped to 36-25 in 2024. It marked Clemson’s first regional championship since 2010, when it captured the Auburn Regional title.
The Tigers scored two runs in the first inning on Blake Wright’s run-scoring single and Jimmy Obertop’s RBI fielder’s choice. Coastal Carolina responded with a run in the top of the second inning, then Clemson plated a run on Alden Mathes’ grounder in the bottom of the second inning. Obertop blasted a solo homer, his 20th of the season, in the third inning, then Jacob Hinderleider, who was named Clemson Regional MVP, lined a two-out single to score a run in the fourth inning, giving Clemson a 5-1 lead.
Sam Antonacci flared a two-out single to score a run in the top of the fifth inning, then the Tigers answered again with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning on Nolan Nawrocki’s bases-loaded walk. Caden Bodine belted a two-run homer in the top of the eighth inning and Derek Bender followed with a solo homer to narrow Clemson’s lead to 6-5.
Cam Cannarella led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a homer, his 10th of the season. Later in the frame, Jack Crighton grounded a run-scoring single, then Mathes and Hinderleider both hit two-run doubles.
Reed Garris (2-1) earned the win in career-long 3.0 innings pitched in relief, while Austin Gordon pitched 1.1 innings to record his 11th save of the year. Chanticleer starter Trevor Hinkel (1-3) suffered the loss.
The Tigers advanced to host the Clemson Super Regional at Doug Kingsmore Stadium against the winner of the Stillwater Regional. The best-of-three series begins either Friday or Saturday. Game dates and times will be announced by the NCAA.
2024 Clemson (S.C.) Regional All-Tournament Team
C – Caden Bodine, Coastal Carolina
1B – Jack Crighton, Clemson
2B – Blake Barthol, Coastal Carolina
SS – Jacob Hinderleider*, Clemson
3B – Sam Antonacci, Coastal Carolina
OF – Cam Cannarella*, Clemson
OF – Tristan Bissetta, Clemson
OF – Matthew Polk, Vanderbilt
DH/UT – Derek Bender, Coastal Carolina
P – Henry Weycker, Coastal Carolina
P – Tristan Smith, Clemson
MVP – Jacob Hinderleider, Clemson
* – unanimous selection