Clemson 9 — North Carolina 5 (Game Summary)
- Nate Savoie and Jack Crighton had three hits apiece to lead Clemson’s 13-hit attack, while Aidan Knaak was sensational in his eighth start of the year to lift the Tigers to the four-run victory over UNC on Friday night
- The Tigers squandered a couple of early scoring chances, having Savoie thrown out at the plate in the first, while wasting a lead-off double from Jacob Jarrell in the second, stranding him at third
- In the third, UNC knocked in the first run of the game on a double-play ball that plated Jake Schaffner from third to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. It could have been worse for the Tigers, as North Carolina loaded the bases with no one out, but Knaak was able to get out of the inning with no further damage
- Clemson carried that momentum over to their half of the third, tying the game on a double from Crighton and a UNC error that allowed Savoie to score from first base. The Tigers had a chance for more as they loaded the bases on the second error of the inning and a two-out walk. However, Tyler Lichtenberger fouled out to end the threat and send the game to the fourth, tied at 1-1
- Clemson broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth, thanks to a one-out HR from Savoie and an RBI single from Lichtenberger to take a 3-1 lead. The long ball from Savoie was his 11th of the season, along with his second run scored of the game. With two outs and the bases loaded, Jackson Moore bounced a two-run single into right field to get “Club DKS” rocking and up Clemson’s advantage to 5-1 heading into the back half of the game
- UNC got a run back in the top of the sixth; however, Knaak was able to pitch out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam to keep the Tigers in front by three
- Crighton homered in the bottom of the sixth to push Clemson’s advantage to 7-2. It was just Crighton’s second home run of the season, but both have come in the last five days. He also hit one in Clemson’s 12-5 win over Stanford last Sunday
- Moore added his first career home run in the seventh as Clemson cruised to the victory, despite UNC getting a 2-run HR in the top of the 9th
- For the fifth time this season, Knaak struck out eight or more batters as he finished with 9 K’s and just two runs allowed in six innings of work to record his second win of the season
- Game two is set for Saturday afternoon at 2pm