DURHAM, N.C. — Dominic Listi homered, doubled, and drove in four runs as No. 5 seed Clemson knocked off No. 12 seed Virginia Tech 6-1 in the second round of the ACC Baseball Championship at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, N.C., on Wednesday.

Listi came up clutch for the Tigers (42-15) on multiple occasions, hitting a two-run homer in the first with two outs, then adding a two-out, two-run double in the fifth. He was 2-for-3 on the afternoon, with four runs driven in.

Jarren Purify was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Cam Cannarella went 1-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Freshman T.P. Wentworth also added two base hits in just his sixth start of the season.

Pitching on short rest, Aidan Knaak gave the Tigers six strong innings, allowing a run on four hits in notching the win (9-1). He struck out six and walked one.

Jacob McGovern relieved Knaak to start the seventh, holding Tech hitless over two innings. The lefty struck out three and walked one. Joe Allen came on to pitch a perfect ninth to shut it down.

Ben Watson gave the Hokies (31-25) an immediate lead, sending a 2-2 changeup from Knaak into the right-field stands to lead off the game.

The Tigers would immediately respond. Cannarella doubled to start the Clemson first, with Purify following that up with a single, putting runners at the corners. A wild pitch would plate Cannarella for Clemson’s first run. Two hitters later, Listi hit a two-run shot out to right, his sixth of the season and second in as many games, giving the Tigers a 3-1 lead.

Listi struck again in the fifth. After Purify was hit by a pitch, Collin Priest reached on a bunt single, putting runners at first and second. After Josh Paino struck out for the second time in the game, Listi doubled into the gap in left-center, clearing the bases, and pushing Clemson’s lead to 5-1. Cannarella would add an RBI on a sacrifice fly later in the frame for a crucial insurance run.

Coming Up Clutch

Clemson hitters were 5-of-13 with runners in scoring position and hit .333 with runners on base. Five of the Tigers’ six runs were scored with two outs.

Cannarella Stays Hot

The star centerfielder continues to rake. Cannarella is 15 for his last 28 and has raised his average up to over .330. His hustle play on a wild pitch in the first inning gave the Tigers their first run of the game.

Postseason Implications

With this win, Clemson solidifies its resume and should be hosting a regional next weekend. The Tigers come into Wednesday sitting at No. 10 in the RPI.

Up Next

Clemson will face off against No. 4 seed NC State in the quarterfinal round on Thursday at 7 p.m. The Wolfpack swept the Tigers in Raleigh in the regular season.