Clemson hit four home runs, including a grand slam by Collin Priest, as the No. 6 Tigers cruised to a 13-1 run-rule win over Cal in seven innings on Saturday at Stu Gordon Stadium in Berkeley, California. The victory clinched the weekend series for Clemson.

Along with the grand slam from Priest, the Tigers (29-5, 8-3 ACC) got homers from Jacob Jarrell, Josh Paino and Andrew Ciufo.

Priest finished the afternoon 3-for-4 with five RBI. Cam Cannarella, Jarrell and Paino all had multi-hit days, as well. Ciufo drove in three runs, while Paino added two RBI.

Ethan Darden had a nice bounce-back start, going six innings and allowing three runs on five hits in picking up the win (3-2). He struck out one and walked one. Nathan Dvorsky pitched a perfect seventh with two strikeouts to finish it off.

The Tigers jumped on Cal (16-14, 6-8 ACC) immediately, batting around in the first inning and plating six runs. Clemson quickly loaded the bases, setting the stage for Priest’s one-out grand slam out to right, his sixth long ball of the season. Jarrell followed that up with a solo shot out to left and one hitter later, Paino went deep as well, another solo shot out to left. Paino and Priest are now tied for the team lead with six homers each.

Clemson kept pouring it on in the second, pushing across seven more runs. Cam Cannarella had an RBI double, Luke Gaffney a sacrifice fly and Priest drove in his fifth run of the game with a double into right. Paino added another RBI with a single into left, before Ciufo launched a three-run shot out to left, giving the Tigers a 13-0 lead. It was Ciufo’s fourth home run of the year.

Cal got a solo shot off of Darden in the bottom of the second, making it 13-1.

The Bears added another run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly, cutting the Tigers’ lead to 13-2. Then in the sixth, Cal added another shot, pulling to within 13-3.

Up Next

Clemson goes for its first ACC sweep of the season on Sunday. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.