Clemson ran its winning streak to nine on the strength of four home runs and a shutdown performance from its pitching staff in a 7-0 victory over USC Upstate at Fluor Field in Greenville, Tuesday.
Jacob McGovern (2.1 innings), B.J. Bailey (4.2, W 1-0), Nathan Dvorsky (0.2), Drew Titsworth (0.1) and Chayce Kieck (1.0) held the Spartans lineup in check for nine innings, combining for a dozen strikeouts.
Jacob Jarrell broke a scoreless tie in the fifth with a three-run homer, his second of the season. With the score still 3-0 in the bottom of the eighth, Upstate mounted a two-out rally to load the bases against Dvorsky. Clemson head coach Erik Bakich called on hard-throwing Drew Titsworth to stamp out the threat. The sophomore righthander came through, fanning Jake Armsey on a 2-2 fastball to preserve the lead.
The fourth-ranked Tigers broke it open moments later with ninth-inning long balls from Josh Paino, Tristan Bissetta and Andrew Ciufo.
Clemson (11-1) will play its next 16 games at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The lengthy homestand will begin against Presbyterian College at 4 p.m., Wednesday.