Clemson’s freshman pitcher continues to play out zero’s up, and it’s bringing a level of confidence to the team as a whole.

The Tigers lost the first half of its doubleheader Saturday, but Aidan Knaak delivered what’s become a routine performance on the mound.

Knaak pitched 5.2 scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and striking out eight batters. This continues a streak for him starting with the Miami game.

Since that game, he’s pitched 27.2 innings and allowed a single earned run with 37 strikeouts. Saturday was a tame performance by his recent standards for that matter.

“Aidan pitched very well. Just doing what he does, attacking the strike zone, letting the defense work and putting zero’s up. Just like the way that we competed and the way we played,” Head coach Erik Bakich said.

For Knaak, he credits his success to the team around him. When the offense is click as it often has with him on the mound, he said postgame that there’s no pressure and it’s reflected in his outings.

“It’s very easy to pitch behind a great offense and have some run support like Jimmy (Obertop) in the lineup, putting good AB’s so it’s very easy to pitch like that,” Knaak said.

That level of trust goes both ways. Jimmy Obertop is often the recipient as his catcher, but also hit three homers in the 9-2 victory. He said that it’s fun to play with a pitcher like Knaak and it’s a symbiotic relationship that’s at work.

“It’s a lot of fun playing with him on the mound,” Obertop said.

With Knaak on the mound, the Tigers are now 10-0 on the season. That’s no coincidence.