Lethal combo: Clemson hurlers Knaak and Titsworth hem in the Rams, lead Tigers past VCU 6-2 (AUDIO)

Starter Aidan Knaak and reliever Drew Titsworth proved to be a devastating 1-2 combination, Friday, lifting the Tigers past VCU 6-2 in Game 1 of the Clemson Invitational at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Knaak (1-0) was effective, allowing just a pair of runs on three hits through five innings, but Titsworth may have been even better, holding the visitors scoreless over the final four frames to pick up his first career save. Knaak fanned 13 and Titsworth allowed just two batters to reach base.

Clemson (3-1) took an early lead after Jacob Jarrell walked and came around to score on Jack Crighton’s second-inning double. Later in the same inning, Tristan Bissetta came home on Jarren Purify’s sacrifice fly to give the Tigers a two-run advantage. VCU closed the gap to 2-1 before Josh Paino’s single plated Dominic Listi with Clemson’s third run. The Rams struck again in the fourth, trimming the lead to 3-2 before the Tigers padded the score with a pair of runs in the home half.

Luke Gaffney’s sixth-inning sacrifice fly drove in Purify to cap the scoring. Clemson, ranked eighth nationally, has managed to win three of its first four games without the benefit of the long ball. The Tigers have instead relied on reaching base at a high clip (.398 on-base percentage) and hitting for average (.300).

Clemson will play host to North Carolina A&T in the second game of the tournament at noon, Saturday, followed by a 4 p.m. rematch with VCU.  

Box Score

Erik Bakich, Drew Titsworth and Dominic Listi postgame