Tag: Nolan Nawrocki

Bats stay hot as Clemson beats Kansas State

No. 9 Clemson used a three-run home run from Nolan Nawrocki and a solo shot from Alden Mathes in a 8-2 victory over Kansas State in midweek play Wednesday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

No. 9 Clemson used a three-run home run from Nolan Nawrocki and a solo shot from Alden Mathes to pick up a 8-3 victory over Kansas State in midweek play Wednesday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

The Tigers (10-1 overall) jumped out to an early lead and never looked back.

Nawrocki’s home run, his third of the season, came in the second inning off Kansas State starter Andrew Evans. Nawrocki got a fastball up and out over the plate, which he drove over the fence in left-center for a 3-0 Clemson lead.

An inning later, Mathes launched a home run that sailed well above the wall in right to extend the lead to 5-0. Mathes’ home run came after Will Taylor had tripled and scored on a wild pitch earlier that inning.

Mathes (2-for-3) and Nawrocki (2-for-4) both finished with two hits for the Tigers, who tallied eight hits total in Tuesday’s victory.

Clemson added some insurance runs in the eighth. Jacob Hinderleider drew a bases-loaded walk with one out to make it 6-2. Nawrocki scored on an RBI groundout from Cam Cannarella, and Hinderleider crossed the plate after a wild pitch to extend the lead to 8-2.

“We got some nice, timely hits today,” Tigers coach Erik Bakich said afterwards. “Nawrocki’s three-run homer, Alden Mathes with a big two-out home run, and then having six quality at-bats in the eighth inning to get some momentum, string something together for another 3 spot.”

“It didn’t have quite the heroics or the fireworks, but it was a very solid performance,” Bakich added.

Justin LeGuernic started the ninth inning for Clemson but ran into trouble by allowing a leadoff single and two walks to load the bases with no one out. Rob Hughes followed as the Tigers’ fourth pitcher of the night. He allowed an RBI single to Brady Day before striking out Jayden Lobliner swinging to end the game.

Billy Barlow started and pitched five innings, allowing one run on six hits to earn his second win of the season for Clemson. Barlow (2-1) struck out five and walked two. He worked his way out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning without allowing a run to score.

Lucas Mahlstedt pitched three innings in relief for the Tigers, limiting Kansas State to a run one on two hits.

Evans (1-1) suffered the loss for the Wildcats (7-5 overall). He pitched three innings and yielded five runs on four hits.

UP NEXT: Clemson begins a three-game series Friday when UNC Greensboro visits Doug Kingsmore Stadium for the Tigers’ final non-conference weekend set of the season. Friday’s first pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. EST. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra (ACCNX).

Best rivalry in college baseball? Tigers/Gamecocks, Clemson players say

These Clemson players say Tigers vs. Gamecocks is the best rivalry in college baseball.

In a matchup of two top 25 teams, Clemson won a pair of thrilling 5-4 victories against in-state rival South Carolina in the Palmetto Series over the weekend. The games were the latest entries in a rivalry that dates all the way back to the end of the 19th century.

Since 1899, the Tigers and Gamecocks have played one another more times than any other opponent. With its two wins this weekend, Clemson now leads the all-time head to head series, 188-145-2.

The Tigers, ranked 11th in the USA TODAY Sports baseball coaches poll, improved to 9-1 overall with their two nail-biting victories over the 16th-ranked Gamecocks.

A walk-off home run in the bottom of the 12th inning from Andrew Ciufo ended Saturday’s contest, while a come-from-behind victory on Sunday ended with Tigers pitcher Austin Gordon stranding the potential tying and go-ahead runs on base in the ninth inning.

College baseball, much like college football and basketball, is known for its top rivalries. Alabama and Auburn hate each other in any sport, as does Ole Miss and Mississippi State, Florida and Florida State (and Miami), Duke and North Carolina, and others.

As for Clemson vs. South Carolina and the Palmetto Series?

“I think this is the best rivalry in college baseball,” Tigers third baseman Nolan Nawrocki said after Sunday’s game, which included Nawrocki’s go-ahead home run in the sixth inning. “It’s great to be a part of it. I’m just so happy that we can all embrace these moments and just keep competing.”

Second baseman Blake Wright, who went 2-for-4 and clubbed his fourth home run of the season in the eighth inning of Sunday’s game, agreed with Nawrocki.

“It’s the best rivalry in college baseball. Definitely in the state,” Wright said. “It was definitely a huge (series) win for us. We played hard as a team, we were super competitive. They’re a good club. It definitely got a little chippy, but that’s what makes it fun. It means a lot to this university and it means a lot for us (players).”

Because Friday’s scheduled series opener at Founders Park in Columbia was rained out, the two schools will play a makeup game in April.

In the meantime, Clemson will host Kansas State in midweek play Wednesday at 4 p.m. EST at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.

Home runs power Clemson past South Carolina for second straight day

Will Taylor, Nolan Nawrocki, and Blake Wright hit home runs, and Clemson held off a ninth-inning rally from South Carolina to defeat the Gamecocks, 5-4, in the Palmetto Series Sunday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Will Taylor, Nolan Nawrocki, and Blake Wright hit home runs, and Clemson held off a ninth-inning rally to defeat South Carolina, 5-4, in the Palmetto Series Sunday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

The Tigers (9-1 overall) won both contests of this weekend’s series by identical scores.

“I’m proud of our guys and proud of the way we competed the past two days,” Clemson coach Erik Bakich said afterwards. “It goes back to two heavyweight punches. We were just one run better again. I thought we competed really well and got some big hits again.”

In this one, they had to come from behind after Cole Messina’s two-run first inning home run off Clemson starter Aiden Knaak staked the Gamecocks to a quick 2-0 lead.

The Tigers got on the board in the bottom of the inning when Taylor went deep off South Carolina starter Dylan Eskew to cut the lead to 2-1. It was the fourth home run in the past week for Taylor, who went deep three times in Tuesday’s Clemson win over SC Upstate.

Dylan Brewer, the former Tiger who spent three seasons at Clemson, singled down the right field line in the third to extend the Gamecocks’ lead to 3-1 in the third inning.

Clemson tied the game in the fourth. Jimmy Obertop grounded to the left side of the infield to score Taylor and cut the lead to 3-2. Andrew Ciufo then followed with a two-out soft single that dropped into right field to score Blake Wright from second and even the game at 3-apiece.

“We played the game. Get ’em on, get ’em over, get ’em in,” Bakich said.

In the sixth, Nawrocki gave Clemson the lead at 4-3 when he turned on a fastball from Roman Kimball and sent it well over the left field fence.

South Carolina threatened in the seventh, but Nick Clayton struck out Messina to end the inning and strand the potential tying run at third.

When Wright homered off Kimball to lead off the eighth on a deep drive just to the left of straight-away center field, it gave the Tigers an insurance run and made the score 5-3.

Austin Gordon came on to work the ninth inning and allowed a two-out solo home run to Ethan Petry that made it a one-run game. Messina followed with a walk after being behind 0-2 in the count before Gordon got Talmadge LeCroy to ground to third for the final out.

“Ninth innings are tough. They never go 1-2-3,” Bakich said. “It was only fitting that there was some drama in the ninth, but ultimately I loved the way our guys competed and that we clinched the series.”

Drew Titsworth (1-0) earned the win in relief for Clemson, tossing 1 1/3 innings of shutout ball. The Tigers used four pitchers in relief of starter Aiden Knaak, who allowed three runs on four hits in five innings. Knaak got out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning when he coaxed Brewer on a fly ball to left before facing the minimum three batters in the fifth.

Clayton recorded four outs and got out of a couple of key jams. The senior right-hander ran into trouble in the eighth inning when he issued a pair of walks to put the potential tying and go-ahead runs on base for Will Tippett. Matthew Marchal entered in relief and got Tippett to fly out to third base to end the threat.

The Gamecocks (8-3) left 11 runners on base Sunday and managed only one hit after the fourth inning.

“The situational pitching throughout the game was really good,” Bakich noted. “Aiden Knaak battled and then Drew Titsworth came in and was really good. Nick Clayton… to strand the runner at third with their two dudes up, Petry and Messina, to get a groundout and a strikeout there, that was big time.”

Kimball (1-1) suffered the loss in 3 1/3 innings of relief.

Dylan Eskew started for South Carolina and pitched 3 2/3 innings. Eskew allowed three runs (one earned) on two hits. He struck out four and walked one.

UP NEXT: Clemson will host Kansas State Wednesday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. EST. The game will be broadcast by ACC Network Extra (ACCNX).

Former Michigan pledge flips to Bakich, Tigers

The Clemson baseball program has picked up a new verbal commitment. Rockville Centre (N.Y.) Chaminade High School 2022 shortstop Nolan Nawrocki – a former Michigan pledge – announced his commitment to new head coach Erik Bakich and the Tigers via …

The Clemson baseball program has picked up a new verbal commitment.

Rockville Centre (N.Y.) Chaminade High School 2022 shortstop Nolan Nawrocki — a former Michigan pledge — announced his commitment to new head coach Erik Bakich and the Tigers via social media.

“Super excited to announce that I will be continuing my athletic and academic career at Clemson University,” Nawrocki wrote on Instagram. “Can’t thank Coach Bakich and Coach Schnabel (assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator Nick Schnabel) enough for the countless opportunities! Pumped to be a Tiger and join the Clemson Baseball family!”

You can check out clips of Nawrocki below:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CfZ9dLaOFjf/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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