Clemson DH Caden Grice hit a grand slam, a three-run homerun, and a solo shot to help Clemson blow past #4–Louisville 11-3 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Friday. Grice drove in eight runs in the rout, becoming the first Tiger since Grayson Byrd in 2018 to hit three homeruns in a single game. To add insult to injury for the Cardinals, Grice also tossed one scoreless inning of relief.
The freshman from Greer wasted no time tapping into his Friday night power surge. After Louisville grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, Grice hit the first grand slam of his career, an opposite field shot, to put the Tigers up 4-1 at the end of the opening frame.
Clemson (19-18/13-12) increased the lead to 5-1 in the second inning on Sam Hall’s second homerun of the season. That solo blast to left field was followed by Grice’s second four-bagger of the contest, also to left field, in the third.
He brought out the big stick once again in the fifth inning as the Tigers chased Louisville starting pitcher Michael Kirian. Clemson was able to score four times in the fifth, including the final homerun of the night by Grice, a three-run shot to right centerfield. His eight RBIs are the most by a Clemson player since Tyler Colvin pulled of the feat in 2006. Following the game, the 6’6″ DH was quick to deflect the focus off of him.
“All the credit goes to my teammates, obviously getting on base. Mack throwing a great game. I mean there’s really not much more that you can ask for from a ball game.”
Clemson starting pitcher Mack Anglin improved to 2-2 on the season, throwing seven strong innings and holding Louisville to just one run on five hits, while striking out nine. Kirian dropped his first decision of the year, working just four innings, allowing eight runs on six hits. He also served up three of the four Clemson homeruns on the night.
The series continues tomorrow at 3pm.
