Clemson Boston College Game Summary
- Veteran second baseman Jarren Purify homered, scored twice and drove in the go-ahead run with an opposite-field single in the eighth to rally Clemson past Boston College 4-3 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, Sunday.
- While Purify shouldered the load offensively, starter Aidan Knaak looked more like his old self, fanning eight and walking just one batter in 5.1 innings. BC did get to Knaak for three runs, but the junior righthander held the Eagles without an extra-base hit to help keep the Tigers within striking distance as both clubs dipped into the bullpen. Knaak became the seventh Tigers pitcher, and the first since 2000, to eclipse 300 career strikeouts.
- BC built a 3-1 lead with their patented style of “birdball,” which emphasizes the small-ball concepts base stealing and sacrifice bunts. The Eagles plated a run in the first on a single, hit-by-pitch and an error. The second run came in on a single after the runner had stolen second. Boston College scored its final run in the same fashion (single-steal-single).
- This “birdball” formula, brought to Chesnut Hill by longtime Wofford coach Todd Interdonato, has helped BC pile up a record of 35-16 and rise in the rankings (no. 14 in Baseball America, no. 20 in D1 Baseball). But after the Eagles took Game 1 of the series 8-4, Friday, Clemson looked better prepared to handle the style in the finale, cutting down a runner at the plate on an attempted squeeze play and stranding ten runners.
- Trailing 3-1 entering the seventh, Clemson needed a spark and it got one in a big way from Purify. Purify drove a 3-2 changeup into the stands in left to cut the deficit in half.
- Clemson loaded the bases in the eighth to set the stage for the rally. Tryston McCladdie singled home Jackson Moore with the tying run, but Nate Savoie was thrown out trying to score the go-ahead run. Once again, Purify came to the rescue, singling through the right side to plate Jacob Jarrell and put the Tigers up for good.
- Hayden Simmerson (1-1) threw a scoreless seventh and eighth to pick up the win and clinch the series for Clemson.
- Clemson (28-20, 8-16) continues to have BC’s number, having won 17 straight series over the Eagles. The Tigers are back in non-conference action against Coastal Carolina, Tuesday. First pitch from Springs Brooks Stadium in Conway is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Purify goes with the pitch to put the Tigers in front
JP comes through‼️@JarrenPurify pokes one through the right side for the lead!
— Clemson Baseball (@ClemsonBaseball) May 3, 2026
B8 || BOC 3, CU 4
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Purify gets the rally going with a no-doubter to left
JP leaves the yard!@JarrenPurify's third long ball of the season cuts the deficit in half.
— Clemson Baseball (@ClemsonBaseball) May 3, 2026
🚀 383 ft
💨 102 mph
B7 || BOC 3, CU 2
🖥 https://t.co/sj3E7Z2K45 pic.twitter.com/kYt6q5Ta3G