CLEMSON – For the third time in a year, the Savannah Bananas returned to Clemson Thursday– this time facing the Tigers’ baseball team in an exhibition All-Star game. In last November’s game, the Banana All-Stars defeated the Tigers in a spectacle filled with trick plays and choreographed dances.

But this time at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, the Tigers got their revenge. Under “Banana Ball” rules, Clemson pulled out a 4-3 victory, which equated to a 7-3 win using standard baseball scoring.

While a payback victory was the ultimate goal for the Tigers, there was no shortage of cartoonish fun en route to a win. Here are the top five moments from the Bananas-Tigers circus on dirt.

Jacob Jarrell’s Motorcycle Ride-In

Last year, junior infielder Jay Dillard made headlines by riding into his first at-bat against the Bananas on horseback, backed by a screaming crowd and Big and Rich’s “Save A Horse” playing over the loudspeakers. According to head coach Erik Bakich, bringing a horse into the stadium required intricate planning (and cleanup), so the Tigers opted to trade hooves for wheels this year.

In the first inning, senior catcher Jacob Jarrell was seen walking around the Tigers’ bullpen sporting a matching motorcycle vest and pants. Moments later, he emerged from the Cajun Café on the back of a motorcycle, to the sound of “Wild Thing” by X. Jarrell dismounted at home plate for his at-bat.

The veteran, who notched 15 home runs last year, flew out to left field on the first pitch into the backflipping hands of a Banana. The showmanship, however, was worth the out. 

“I actually didn’t know the motorcycle was going down, but it was sick,” junior second baseman Jarren Purify said after the game. “That was a nice motorcycle. I think it was Harley-Davidson. I don’t know nothing about that, but seeing that one made me want make me want to get one.”

The Bananas hinted at the end that his team would “get the Clemson boys next year,” so yet another mode of transportation may be in the works in 2026.

Ty Dalley’s Flaming Home Run

There’s making an entrance, and there’s hitting a home run with a bat that is literally on fire. 

Mercer transfer Ty Dalley, who hit 19 home runs last season (the third-most in the Southern Conference) wasted no time introducing himself to Clemson fans. Before stepping to the plate for the first time, he donned a firefighter helmet as Bananas staff lit his bat ablaze.

Although the flames were extinguished after two pitches, Dalley’s bat remained hot as he blasted a homer to right field to extend the Tigers’ lead.

 “It was awesome,” Dalley said of his blazing homer. “As soon as I hit it and everybody stood up, I was like, ‘Yeah, this is why I came to Clemson right here.’”

Quadruple Backflip 

Last year, Purify, Tryston McCladdie, and freshman pitcher Dion Brown went viral with a mid-inning dance that ended with three backflips and an eventual 34 million views across several social media platforms.

On Thursday, Purify revealed that the dance almost did not make it to screens across America; the group started practicing only hours before first pitch after Bananas founder Jesse Cole asked for ideas. McCladdie quickly taught the backflips, and adrenaline carried the troupe through.

One year later, the group performed another dance, this time, with the addition of transfer centerfielder Bryce Clavon. According to Purify, the group had a little more professional help practicing their flips this time around.

 “So, one of our good friends on our gymnastics team actually let us use their facility last night,” Purify said. “So, we got to practice the flips and we got to fool around in there a little bit. But, shout out to her for sure. And then, it didn’t take us long to learn it. We just had to execute the back flip so he didn’t break our face.”

Purify and his fellow dancers were again able to execute the flips, as the crowd erupted for the second consecutive year. In only a few hours, the dance is already climbing to one million views.

Dan Margolies Closes It Out

According to Banana rules, every run in the ninth inning counts as it would in a standard baseball game, meaning that the Bananas could have walked it off with a three-run inning (and a trick play point) after turning a triple play to keep the Tigers’ lead 4-1. If the Tigers wanted to win outright, it would fall on the shoulders of freshman pitcher Dan Margolies.

Margolies, a Cheshire, Conn., gave up one run, after an error from the Tigers defense allowed a runner on third to get home, to cut the lead 4-2. 

Margolies answered by forcing weak contact to right field to end the game. He finished with one strikeout and a hit. Several other freshman pitchers also helped hold the Bananas to only two runs through eight innings, including starter Brendon Bennett, Cannon Feazell, and freshman Peyton Miller.

“You don’t get any more adversity than what Dan Marglolies experienced there in the ninth inning, the game’s over if the runner on second scores,” Bakich said.  “This is what it feels like to host a Regional. It felt like tonight’s game, just the energy and the excitement felt like a big postseason win. So, I love that that’s how our freshmen get their feet wet. There’s no better way to just dive right into the fire than to do this.”

Banana Band (and DJ)

One thing about a Bananas game is that fans are never sitting in silence. From 1990’s rap songs to 80’s rock– 2000’s boy bands to musical theater anthems, you can expect to hear it all. In the first inning alone, The Clemson Insider counted over 30 songs played in a 10-15 minute span. 

Fans also got a sneak peak at Clemson’s potential walk-up songs for the season. Purify stuck with “Family Ties,” Jack Crighton (now wearing No. 5) kept “In the Air Tonight,” Dalley used “20 Min,” and App State transfer Tyler Lichtenberger chose Fetty Wap’s “Again.”

The Bananas’ Pep Band, featuring several trombones, saxophones, and a percussion section made their entrance to the outfield known ahead of the game, blasting hits like “Uptown Funk.”

What’s Next

The Tigers’ matchup against the Savannah Bananas does not count as a “real” win for either team, but it allowed thousands of people to watch some amatuer baseball in October. For Bakich, the Tigers, Banana and Clemson fans, that counts as a victory.

Clemson will be back to playing with standard baseball rules Saturday, when the Tigers host Alabama for an exhibition game at Doug Kingsmore (1:30 p.m.). A fanfest with food trucks and field games will run simultaneously. Admission is $10 for fans and free for Clemson students. 

There will be fewer people walking around in neon banana costumes, but Bakich hopes the environment will be equally as electric.

“We get Alabama here in a few days, and if we can get this type of excitement and this type of packed house, it’s good baseball,” he said.