CLEMSON —  The 10th-ranked Clemson Tigers were hot at the plate again Saturday as they scored eight runs on 10 hits to defeat Xavier, 8-3, at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

With the win, coupled with Friday’s win in Game 1, the Tigers take the three-games over the Musketeers.

Clemson’s Tristan Smith got the start for the Tigers and pitched well. Smith, who threw 71 pitches, while going four innings. He gave up one hit, a second-inning home run.

The Tigers’ jumped out front, 4-1, in the fourth inning. With one out Cooper Blauser walked. Jacob Hinderleider singled to right advancing Blauser to second. Nolan Nawrocki doubled to score Blauser, tying the game at 1.

Cam Cannarella then singled to left to score Hinderleider and Nawrocki for a 3-1 advantage. Will Taylor later reached on a throwing error, allowing Cannarella to score the fourth run.

Nick Clayton relieved Smith to start the fifth inning. The first batter he faced hit a solo home run to leftfield, but he retired the side to finish the inning.

In the bottom of the fifth, Alden Mathes singled to start the rally.  Jimmy Obertop walked before Blauser walked with one away to load the bases.  Hinderleider then doubled down the leftfield line to score Mathes and Obertop. After five innings, the Tigers led 6-2.

Blake Wright later smoked a solo home run to left to start the bottom of the sixth inning. Andrew Ciufo added a two-out solo home run of his own to left to make it 8-2.

Xavier hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh to end the scoring.

With the win the Tigers moved to 2-0 on the season. Clemson and Xavier conclude the series Sunday at 1 p.m.