Tag: Cam Cannarella

Four-run ninth inning gives No. 4 Clemson wild series-opening win at Louisville

Clemson Baseball: The Clemson Tigers rallied for a wild 12-11 come-from-behind victory over Louisville Friday.

LOUISVILLE, KY. – No. 4 Clemson scored four runs in the ninth inning, capped by Cam Cannarella’s two-out, run-scoring single, in its 12-11 victory over Louisville at Jim Patterson Stadium on Friday night. The Tigers, who took a 1-0 lead in the series, improved to 33-8 overall and 14-5 in the ACC. The Cardinals fell to 24-17 overall and 9-10 in ACC play.

Isaac Humphrey started the scoring with a run-scoring triple in the third inning, then Clemson responded with four runs in the top of the fourth inning. Jack Crighton, Tristan Bissetta and Alden Mathes all hit run-scoring singles, then an error plated the fourth run.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Louisville took advantage of a walk to the second batter of the frame to ignite a 10-run frame on five hits and a costly error to build an 11-4 lead. Bissetta, who had four RBIs in the game, hit a two-out, two-run single in the fifth inning and added an RBI fielder’s choice in the seventh inning. Cannarella laced a two-out, run-scoring single in the eighth inning.

In the ninth inning, Jacob Hinderleider hit a run-scoring single and Blake Wright, who earlier extended his hitting streak to 11 games, lofted a sacrifice fly. Then with two outs, Jimmy Obertop ripped a single to score the tying run. Cannarella followed with a single to score the go-ahead run.

Matthew Marchal (5-0) earned the win, while Austin Gordon recorded his seventh save of the year. Tucker Biden (3-1) suffered the loss.

The series continues Saturday at 1 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.

–via Clemson Athletic Communications

USC Upstate halts Clemson’s winning streak

Clemson Baseball: Tigers fall to USC Upstate.

Koby Kropt hit a go-ahead grand slam off Rob Hughes in the eighth inning Tuesday, and USC Upstate stunned No. 2 Clemson, 9-5, at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

The Tigers fell to 28-4 overall.

The Spartans (22-12) loaded the bases off Hughes with no one out to begin the eighth inning before Kropt’s home run, his ninth of the season.

Clemson fell behind 5-2 in the sixth inning after Tyler Lang hit a three-run homer off Tigers starter Billy Barlow. For a moment, it looked like the Tigers would do what they’ve done most all season: rally.

Cam Cannarella and Jimmy Obertop hit back to back home runs to tie the game at 5-all in the seventh before Kropt’s eighth-inning blast over Cannarella’s head in straight-away center field landed the decisive blow.

Hughes (1-2) suffered the loss in his 11th appearance in relief. Jake Cubbler (2-1) earned the win in relief with four innings of work. After surrendering the home runs to Cannarella and Obertop, Cubbler retired the final six batters he faced to close out the game.

Barlow received a no-decision in his seventh start. The right-hander surrendered four runs and five hits in five innings. He struck out five and walked one.

Clemson’s offense was held to just six hits. Only Cannarella (2-for-5) had two hits against Spartans pitching. His two-run homer in the seventh was his sixth of the season. Obertop’s solo shot was eighth.

NEXT UP

Clemson will host NC State for a three-game weekend series beginning Friday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The Wolfpack (18-12, 8-7) were swept by Louisville last weekend.

Clemson run rules SC Upstate in midweek contest

Clemson Baseball: No. 2 Clemson defeated USC Upstate, 11-1, in seven innings Tuesday.

GREENVILLE, S.C. – No. 2 Clemson scored five runs in the second inning and five runs in the fifth inning in its 11-1 victory in seven innings over USC Upstate at Fluor Field on Tuesday night. The Tigers, who took a 2-0 lead in the season series, improved to 25-3, while the Spartans dropped to 18-12. The two teams conclude their season series next Tuesday night at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Clemson scored five runs in the second inning on Cam Cannarella’s two-run single, Alden Mathes’ two-run triple and Blake Wright’s RBI groundout. Jacob Jarrell flared a run-scoring single in the third inning, then he ripped a run-scoring double in the fifth inning. Cannarella followed with a sharp grounder to bring home a run, then Mathes and Blake Wright hit run-scoring singles during Clemson’s five-run frame.

The Spartans dented the scoreboard with a run in the fifth inning on Troy Hamilton’s two-out, run-scoring single, ending Clemson’s streak of not allowing a run at 18 innings over three games.

Tiger starter Billy Barrow (4-1) earned the win. He allowed just three hits, one run and two walks with five strikeouts in 5.0 innings pitched. Spartan starter Cooper Ellingworth (4-2) suffered the loss.

The Tigers travel to Notre Dame for a three-game series, beginning Friday at 4:30 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.

–via Clemson Athletic Department

Santucci sizzles with 11 K’s as No. 6 Duke downs No. 10 Clemson in ACC home opener

No. 6 Duke uses home runs and excellent pitching from Jonathan Santucci to down No. 10 Clemson.

For the second Friday in a row, Duke’s baseball team handed a loss to a top-10 team.

This time, it took place in Durham as Duke opened up its ACC home slate with a decisive 5-2 win over the 10th-ranked Clemson Tigers.

Duke ace Jonathan Santucci was razor-sharp as he bounced back from a short-lived showing against Wake Forest last Friday evening. He didn’t make it through three innings in his previous start, but he tossed five innings of two-run ball against Clemson.

The game started rocky after a fielding error allowed Clemson’s best player and future first-round draft pick, outfielder Cam Cannarella, to reach first. A wild pitch and some productive hitting got him to third before a single by third baseman Blake Wright scored him to give the Tigers an early 1-0 lead.

In the bottom frame, Duke responded loudly. With one out, a Ben Miller walk and a single by Alex Stone set the stage for Harvard transfer Logan Bravo to hammer a 2-0 pitch from Clemson starter Austin Gordon to right center for a three-run homer, giving the Blue Devils a lead they would never relinquish the rest of the game.

Santucci, from there, would settle down. He pitched two scoreless innings, racking up more strikeouts using his fastball, changeup, and slider in perfect unison.

In the bottom of the third, Bravo added more insurance, ripping a line drive to left field for his second homer of the game, giving Duke a 4-1 lead.

Clemson’s Blake Wright responded with a home run at the top of the fourth to cut Duke’s lead to two runs, but Santucci avoided further damage after maneuvering through a bit of trouble with two runners on.

The Blue Devils’ star pitcher would end his day in the fifth after getting Wright to fly out to right field. He finished with 11 strikeouts, three walks, and two runs allowed (one earned) on 96 pitches through his five innings pitched.

A Macon Winslow home run gave Duke its fifth and final run of the evening, pushing it ahead 5-2. Winslow finished his day three-for-three with a walk.

From there, Duke’s bullpen held down the fort as Owen Proksch pitched 1.1 innings and paved the way for Duke’s do-it-all reliever Charlie Beilenson to close the game with 2.2 innings of work for his eighth save of the season.

Duke held the Tigers to the second-fewest runs they’ve scored in a game all season.

The Blue Devils will lace their cleats back up and get ready to try and secure a series win tomorrow as the two teams get set for game two.

First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.

Preview and Where to Watch/Stream/Listen: No. 9 Clemson vs. No. 3 Duke

Here’s where Clemson fans can watch, stream, and listen to this weekend’s series against No. 3 Duke.

No. 9 Clemson travels to Durham this weekend to take on No. 3 Duke at Jack Coombs Field in the Tigers’ opening series in ACC play.

Clemson (15-1 overall) won its 11th straight game earlier this week when the Tigers swept Manhattan in midweek play by a combined score of 18-2.

The Tigers have averaged over eight runs per game this season and their only loss was a weekend series opener to Kennesaw State three weeks ago. As a unit, Clemson is batting .318 with a slugging percentage of .538. They have a collective on-base percentage of .429.

Alden Mathes leads the team with a .388 average (19-for-49) in 15 games. Sophomore Cam Cannarella has been the pulse at the top of the Tigers’ lineup and is batting .385 with a team-best six doubles and 17 RBIS. Second baseman Blake Wright has driven in 14 runs and is tied for the team lead in home runs with Will Taylor with five.

Tristan Bissetta has played his way into the lineup of late, totaling six hits in his last 12 at-bats entering Friday’s series.

On the mound for Clemson, sophomore southpaw Tristan Smith has been the Tigers’ best starter this season. He’s held opponents to a .180 average in four starts and is 1-0 with a 2.89 ERA in 18 2/3 innings.

Right-handers Rob Hughes and Drew Titsworth have each thrown six-plus innings in relief without a run being charged to them.

Duke (14-3 overall, 2-1 ACC) is ranked No. 7 in the latest USA TODAY Sports coaches poll, but they’re No. 3 in Baseball America’s Top 25 rankings and ranked No. 6 by D1Baseball.com. The Blue Devils took two of three from previously No. 1-ranked Wake Forest last weekend.

The team is averaging 10 runs per game and batting .338 with a staff ERA of 3.30 ERA. Third baseman Ben Miller leads Duke with a .449 average in 17 games. Miller had a 4-for-5 performance against Wake Forest on March 8 that included two doubles. He finished with six hits in that weekend’s series.

Miller and second baseman Zac Morris lead Duke with seven home runs apiece. Miller’s 22 RBIs is tied for the team lead with outfielder A.J. Garcia.

The Blue Devils split a pair of midweek contests with Rider earlier this week, including an 18-4 victory on Wednesday.

Duke is is scheduled to start left-hander Jonathan Santucci (3-0, 2.29 ERA) Friday, followed by left-hander Andrew Healy (1-1, 5.63) Saturday. The Blue Devils’ Sunday’s starter has yet to be announced.

Austin Gordon (0-0, 6.75 ERA) will start Friday’s opener for Clemson, followed by Smith on Saturday and freshman right-hander Aiden Knaak (1-0, 4.05 ERA) on Sunday.

Series History

Clemson leads the all-time head to head series with Duke, 131-77-2. The series dates back to 1904. Duke took two of three in last season’s series at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Where to Watch/Stream/Listen

Here’s a look at where Clemson fans can watch, stream, and listen to this weekend’s series.

Dates: March 15-17

Start Times (ET):

Friday, 6 p.m.

Saturday: 3 p.m.

Sunday: 1 p.m.

Where: Jack Coombs Field

Broadcast Info

Video: ACC Network Extra (ACCNX), ESPN+

Radio: Clemson Athletic Network | ClemsonTigers.com

Clemson sweeps Manhattan in midweek finale

No. 9 Clemson plated five runs in the first inning en route to a 5-1 victory over Manhattan at Doug Kingsmore Stadium Wednesday.

No. 9 Clemson plated five runs in the first inning en route to a 5-1 victory and two-game series sweep over Manhattan at Doug Kingsmore Stadium Wednesday.

The win was the 11th in a row for head coach Erik Bakich’s team.

Cam Cannarella stayed hot when he doubled down the right field line to lead off the first for Clemson, his sixth double of the season. After a wild pitch, Cannarella scored on a base hit up the middle from Blake Wright for a 1-0 lead.

The Tigers (15-1) followed with three straight run-scoring hits and four straight singles.

Tristan Bissetta singled to the opposite field to score Wright and extend the lead to 2-0. It was Bissetta’s sixth hit in his last four games. Nathan Hall followed with another single for a 3-0 lead.

Jarren Purify snuck a two-run single just past the infield to make it 5-0. Jack Crighton reached on an infield single into the hole at short before Ty Marshall, making his first career start behind the plate in place of Jimmy Obertop, grounded into a double play to close the inning.

Wright (2-for-4) and Crighton (2-for-2) had two hits for Clemson. Crighton also drew a pair of walks to reach base all four times he batted. The Tigers out-hit the Jaspers, 9-5.

Billy Barlow (3-1) made his fifth start for Clemson and pitched five shutout innings, limiting Manhattan to two hits while striking out a career-high nine batters to earn the win.

Matthew Marchal gave up a long home run to Drew Wyers to lead off the sixth inning for the Jaspers’ only run of the game. Marchal pitched two inning in relief. Nick Clayton pitched a scoreless eighth inning, and Lucas Mahlstedt retired the side in order in the ninth .

Garret Garbinski (0-2) started and suffered the loss for Manhattan, allowing all five runs (four earned).

UP NEXT: Clemson travels to No. 7 Duke to open conference play Friday. The Blue Devils (14-3) took two of three from then-No. 1 Wake Forest last weekend. Friday’s first pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. EDT at Jack Coombs Field. The series will be streamed on ACC Network Extra (ACCNX).

Jarren Purify helps Clemson complete sweep of UNC Greensboro

Freshman Jarren Purify had two hits and drove in four runs, and the ninth-ranked Tigers (13-1) rallied for a 6-3 victory to complete a three-game sweep of UNC Greensboro (8-7) Sunday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

For the third straight day, Clemson fell behind early. But much as they’ve done all season to this point, the Tigers’ bats bailed them out.

Freshman Jarren Purify had two hits and drove in four runs, and the ninth-ranked Tigers (13-1) rallied for a 6-3 victory to complete a three-game series sweep of UNC Greensboro Sunday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

After falling behind 2-0 and being held scoreless through five innings, the Tigers’ offense finally awoke in the sixth after leaving the bases loaded an inning earlier.

Jimmy Obertop walked to lead off the inning and force Spartans starter Rob Ready from the game. Andrew Ciufo then dropped a soft single into shallow right off reliever Luke Thomas. A passed ball advanced the runners to second and third.

After Tristan Bissetta was walked intentionally to load the bases, Purify made one of the best plays of the young season.

Purify, the 2023 Detroit Prep Player of the Year, laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to score Overtop from third. Ciufo, who never stopped running from second, also raced home, and the game was tied at 2-2.

When Cam Cannarella followed with an RBI double down the line that just missed the glove of G.C. Jarman in left field, Clemson had its first lead of the day at 3-2.

The Spartans wasted no time striking back in the seventh when Mitchell Smith launched a game-tying home run off reliever Matthew Marchal.

Clemson went right back to work later that inning, though. Overtop and Ciufo singled to put two men on with no one out. After Jacob Hinderleider just missed a home run to deep right-center, Bissetta drew a walk on four pitches to load the bases.

Purify came through again when he lined a two-run single to center. His second hit of the day gave Clemson a 5-3 lead the Tigers wouldn’t relinquish.

Will Taylor sent his fifth home run of the season out to deep left-center in the eighth to give Clemson an insurance run and cap the scoring at 6-3.

Cannarella (2-for-5), Ciufo (2-for-4), and Purify (2-for-3) all had multi-hit games for the Tigers, who outhit UNC Greensboro, 10-7.

Lucas Mahlstedt worked a perfect 1-2-3 ninth inning to earn his first save. Mahlstedt threw two scoreless innings in his fifth relief appearance of the season.

The Tigers got six innings from starter Aidan Knaak, who limited the Spartans to two runs (one earned) on four hits and four walks. Knaak struck out six and finished at 101 pitches, his deepest start of the season.

Marchal got the win in relief to go to 3-0 on the season. Thomas (1-1) suffered the loss for UNC Greensboro (8-7) after starter Rob Ready had thrown five shutout innings to start Sunday’s game. Ready began the sixth inning but was removed after the leadoff walk to Obertop.

With Sunday’s win, Clemson finished 10-1 in non-conference weekend action. The Tigers have now won nine games in a row.

Clemson will host Manhattan College (N.Y.) Tuesday and Wednesday in midweek action before opening ACC play next Friday with a three-game weekend series at Duke.

Clemson keeps cruising, rolls past UNC Greensboro in series opener

Jarren Purify and Cam Cannarella hit back-to-back home runs as part of an eight-run second inning en route to a 12-5 Clemson victory over UNC Greensboro Friday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Clemson found itself in a bit of unfamiliar territory in Friday’s series opener against UNC Greensboro at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Starter Austin Gordon yielded four runs in the second inning as the Tigers found themselves in a rare 4-0 deficit.

Good thing the team’s bats have been red hot.

Jarren Purify and Cam Cannarella hit back-to-back home runs as part of an eight-run response in the bottom of the second en route to a 12-5 Clemson victory over UNC Greensboro.

The Tigers, ranked ninth in the country in the latest USA TODAY Sports’ coaches poll, improved to 11-1 with Friday’s victory — one week before conference play begins next Friday at Duke.

Purify homered to deep left off Spartans starter Noah Chapman, a three-run blast that put the Tigers back in the game. It was the freshman’s second home run in his first 13 at-bats in purple and orange.

Cannarella followed Purify with a solo shot to right-center to tie the game at 4-4. Andrew Ciufo and Jacob Hinderleider added run-scoring hits before the inning was over to stake Clemson to an 8-4 lead. By the end of the frame, the Tigers had batted 13 times.

Clemson tacked on two runs in the fourth and single runs in the fifth and seventh innings to win going away. Ciufo, Hinderleider, Alden Mathes, and Jimmy Obertop all finished with two hits in Friday’s victory. Combined, the Tigers outhit the Spartans, 13-7.

After a shaky start from Gordon, Clemson pitching held the Spartans’ bats in check for the rest of the afternoon. UNC Greensboro had six hits as part of its four-run second inning but were held to just one hit the rest of the day.

Rocco Reid earned the win in his third relief appearance this season. Reid (1-0) threw 2 1/3 innings of scoreless ball and didn’t allow a hit. Joe Allen closed things out with two shutout innings. Allen needed just 15 pitches to sit down all six batters he faced. He recorded two strikeouts.

Gordon received a no-decision after being pulled with two out in the fifth. In his 4 2/3 innings of work, the right-hander allowed five runs and seven hits to go with five strikeouts and three walks.

Chapman (1-1) suffered the loss for the Spartans. He was charged with seven runs on four hits and four walks in just an inning and a third.

Game 2 of the series is scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m. EST. Left-hander Tristan Smith Smith (0-0, 2.63 ERA) will start for Clemson against UNC Greensboro’s Jay Miller (0-0, 3.86).

Preview and Where to Watch/Stream/Listen: Clemson vs. UNC Greensboro

Here’s where Clemson fans can watch, stream, and listen to this weekend’s baseball series against UNC Greensboro.

No. 9 Clemson will look to stay hot when it takes on UNC Greensboro beginning Friday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

With conference play set to begin next weekend when Clemson (10-1) travels to Duke, the Tigers will first face a UNC Greensboro (8-4) team that already has a win on its résumé over No. 1 Wake Forest and is looking for a postseason return after making a Regional appearance in the NCAA Tournament just two years earlier.

The Spartans defeated High Point University, 13-7, earlier this week and took two of three games from Canisius at home last weekend.

For their part, the Tigers won their 10th game of the season when they defeated Kansas State, 7-5, on Wednesday. True freshman Nolan Nawrocki and Alden Mathes homered in the victory, which included five effecting innings from starter Billy Barlow.

Since Barlow started Clemson’s midweek game, Tigers coach Erik Bakich will have to go in a different direction for this weekend’s series opener.

Bakich tapped a familiar face in right-hander Austin Gordon (0-0, 4.50 ERA). who has made three appearances on the season, including two starts — both in midweek games. Gordon made 16 starts for the Tigers last year. He pitched three innings against SC Update on Feb. 27, allowing two runs and five hits in a no-decision.

Bakich will follow a familiar pattern by starting left-hander Tristan Smith Saturday and freshman right-hander Aidan Knaak on Sunday. It will be both pitchers’ fourth starts of the season — all on Saturday and Sunday.

Smith (0-0, 2.63 ERA) allowed just one run on three hits in five strong outings against South Carolina in his last outing. Knaak (1-0, 5.14 ERA) yielded three runs and four hits over five innings in his Sunday start against the Gamecocks.

UNC Greensboro is scheduled to start left-hander Noah Chapman (1-0, 2.25 ERA) Friday, followed by right-handers Jay Miller (0-0, 3.86) and Rob Ready (1-0, 3.77) Saturday and Sunday.

At the plate, Clemson is hitting .303 as a team and averaging almost eight runs per game entering the weekend. Cam Cannarella has followed up a sensational freshman season with 17 hits in 38 at-bats. He has an on-base percentage of .512 through nine games.

Nawrocki is batting .394 with three homers, a double, 13 RBIs and a .447 on-base percentage in nine games as the team’s starting third baseman. Nawrocki hit a three-run home run that staked the Tigers to an early lead in their win over Kansas State. He also a go-ahead home run in the sixth inning Sunday against South Carolina that gave Clemson the lead for good.

Series History

Clemson leads the all-time head to head series with UNC Greensboro, 4-0. The two programs last met in 2017.

Where to Watch/Stream/Listen

Here’s a look at how and where Clemson fans can watch, stream, and listen to this weekend’s series against UNC Greensboro.

Dates: March 8-10

Start Times (ET):

Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 2 p.m.

Where: Doug Kingsmore Stadium

Live  Stream

Video: ACC Network Extra (ACCNX), ESPN+

Radio: Clemson Athletic Network | ClemsonTigers.com

Clemson baseball moves two spots in new USA TODAY Sports coaches poll

Clemson moved up two spots to No. 9 in the new USA TODAY Sports baseball coaches poll released Monday.

Clemson moved up two spots to No. 9 in the USA TODAY Sports baseball coaches poll released Monday.

The Tigers are 9-1 overall and won all three games it played last week, including a pair of 5-4 victories over rival South Carolina in the cross-state Palmetto Series.

Wake Forest (10-1) remained at No. 1 with defending national champion LSU (11-1) at No. 2. Arkansas (9-2) jumped two spots to No. 3. TCU (12-0) and Oregon State (11-1) rounded out the top five.

Texas A&M (11-0) placed sixth in the new coaches poll while Florida, last year’s College World Series runner up, fell three spots to land at No. 7. Tennessee, Clemson, and Vanderbilt rounded out the top 10.

In other polls, the Tigers stayed at No. 10 in this week’s Baseball America and D1Baseball Top 25 rankings.

Clemson will host Kansas state in midweek action Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. EST at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

The Tigers will then play host to UNC Greensboro in weekend series play starting Friday. All four games this coming week will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra (ACCNX).