CLEMSON – The Clemson Tigers defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 8-3 in a 12-inning exhibition game at Doug Kingsmore Stadium Saturday.

The win capped off a busy week in Clemson that included a win over the Savannah Banana All-Stars and a Halloween-themed batting practice that hosted over 300 costume-clad children on Friday night.

The Tigers, who visited Alabama for a similar event last fall, scored in four frames, as 11 players combined for 14 hits to Alabama’s 10. The Tigers left over a dozen runners stranded, but repeatedly worked through several defensive jams to keep the Tide from scoring more than one run in any inning.

Junior first baseman Luke Gaffney drew blood first for the Tigers in the bottom of the first with a towering solo home that landed far beyond the left field pretzel stand. Freshman infielder and right-handed pitcher Dylan Harrison, marked an “extra hitter,” launched another long ball two innings later to send himself and Georgia transfer Bryce Clavon home for a 3-0 lead.

Second baseman Jarren Purify roped a two-out single into left field to score App State transfer Tyler Lichtenberg in the fifth, and Jack Crighton plated an RBI single in the ninth to extend the lead 5-1. Lichtenberg later grounded into a fielder’s choice to score two more for the Tigers.

A sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 11th from sophomore Briggs Sullivan solidified the final 8-3 score.

Alabama plated runs on RBI singles in the fourth and eighth, and off of a solo homer in the 11th.

Tigers’ Lineup

Clemson’s lineup featured a mix of familiar and new faces. Purify led off, followed by Gaffney at first. Loyola Marymount transfer Nate Savoie hit third as the designated hitter, while Mercer transfer Ty Dalley slotted in next, and in right field. Freshman Jason Fultz hit fifth as an extra hitter.

The middle of the extended order included senior left fielder Jack Crighton, third baseman Tryston McCladdie, and senior catcher Jacob Jarrell. Rounding out the lineup were Lichtenberg, centerfielder Clavon, and extra hitters Harrison and Jay Dillard. Younger players like Jackson Moore, Owen Anchors, and Steele Burd also saw late-game at-bats.

Returning Tigers at the Plate

As a whole, the Tigers were consistently disciplined at the plate, drawing several two-out, two-strike walks and drilling several clutch hits.

Purify, a team captain last season, finished 1-2 with an RBI single down the left field line and two walks.

Gaffney, coming off of an up-and-down year in his first season at Clemson, went 1-3 with the solo homer, coming off of a multi-hit night against the Savannah Bananas. It was a solid week for the former freshman All-American.

“Luke Gaffney at the top of the order, I think last year, by his standards, comparatively for what he did in the Big 10 the year before, I can see Luke Gaffney returning to form, and we’ve seen that all fall,” head coach Erik Bakich said.

Crighton, Jarrell, and McCladdie were also responsible for singles, and McCladdie had the defensive play of the day with a diving catch deep in foul territory by Alabama’s bullpen.

Dillard drew two walks, narrowly missed a home run, and was robbed of a backside single off of a leaping snag from the Tide’s third baseman.

Newcomers at the Plate

Lichtenberg, last year’s Sun Belt Freshman of the Year, did not take long to introduce himself to Clemson fans. The sophomore reached on a fielder’s choice and singled twice, grounding out once into a double play. He was driven home in the sixth by Purify’s single.

Fultz finished 2-for-4 with a walk, a double, and a single advanced to second off an Alabama error. The 6-foot-2 two-way player batted fifth and appeared ready for playing time.

“You know, it’s hard for freshmen to hit in the top or middle of the order,” Bakich said. “And (Fultz) did that against the Bananas and did that today. He can really impact the baseball. He’s an advanced hitter for his age.”

Harrison, the freshman from Fontana, Calif., responsible for the two-run homer, also notched a two-strike single to send Lichtenberg to third.

Savoie, who hit two-home runs in scrimmages two weeks ago, also singled in the first.

Overall, the Tigers limited strikeouts, and were patient at the plate, a continuation of last season’s offensive identity. The freshman class stood out for its size and power. Harrison, standing at 6-foot-5, is a notable player to watch develop for the next few years, at the plate and on the mound.

With the additions of Lichtenberg, Savoie, and Dalley– who hit 19 long balls at Mercer last year–the Tigers appear to increase their offensive firepower.

Tigers on the Mound

The long-form game allowed 12 Clemson pitchers to throw an inning each, and zero of the dozen allowed more than one run.

Junior Drew Titsworth got the start for the Tigers, after needing only nine pitches to get out of his inning in last week’s intrasquad scrimmage. The veteran worked through a leadoff walk, striking out two and throwing to Gaffney at first for the third out. His fastball sat at around 91-92 miles per hour.

Talan Bell, a sophomore that notched a 5.56 ERA across limited innings last year while recovering from an injury, hit his first two batters with a pitch, before striking out two. McCladdie’s diving catch ended the inning. His velocity also sat around the low 90s.

Dion Brown, a sophomore right-hander, stood out as the most improved pitcher. Last fall, the York, S.C., native’s fastball sat in the high 80s, touching the low 90s at times during the season. On Saturday, he was up to 96, with a curveball in the mid-80s. Bakich noted that he hit 97 on the radar gun this fall, as well.

“He’s just like a bolt of lightning, and explosiveness comes in all shapes and sizes,” Bakich said. “The ground force energy that he harnesses and the way he transfers it out of his arm, he’s pound-for-pound probably our most explosive dude.”

Brown hit one with a pitch, and struck out another, administering no runs in the fourth.

Alabama transfer Ariston Veasey also brought heavy velocity against his former team in the eighth. The right-hander pumped up the crowd after striking out one. He walked another and hit one with a pitch. Veasey earned a 9.82 ERA in five relief outings last season, and his command needs to be a point of focus ahead of the season.

Freshman Danny Nelson was also a standout for the Tigers, fooling his first batter with a 95 mph fastball followed by a slider for a strikeout. He gave up a double and a four-pitch walk, but induced weak contact for flyouts to end the inning.

Catawba College transfer Hayden Simmerson gave up three singles, but threw two runners out at home to escape. Noah Samol was the only pitcher with a clean inning in the 12th.

Overall, the Tigers’ pitching staff appears to have more depth this year, with the additions of freshmen arms like Nelson and Harrison –the same who hit the home run– and transfer adds like Veasey and Tennessee transfer Michael Sharman bolstering the bullpen.

Though six Crimson Tide players were hit by pitches– an issue to be expected in the fall– Clemson pitchers, old and new, navigated high-pressure situations, which Bakich called “dangerous,” but ultimately, effective. 

Although key bullpen arms like Reed Garris and Lucas Mahlstedt are no longer with the Tigers, the pitching staff shows a lot of potential to compete in high-stress game situations. Additionally, the Tigers will add veteran pitchers Aidan Knaak and reliever Jacob McGovern, who did not throw in fall scrimmages. Sophomore Dane Moehler, coming off a UCL repair, will continue to work up to “game-ready” into the season.

“Our pitching stuff is better and sometimes you can “out-stuff” your way out of an inning and wiggle out of a jam,” Bakich said. “But as I just told them, that’s not the recipe. They know that it’s not the recipe for championship baseball. But you know what? We’ll take it because we found ways to escape.”

Final Thoughts

While Clemson did not appear ready for the throws of April and May ACC competition, the Tigers appear on track to build on the postseason success Bakich-led teams have had in the last three years.

“If we were just to just measure objectively today’s game, it would have been one of those where we didn’t hit our game goals for the things we’re trying to do, and achieve what we care about and what we’re measuring, but we still found a way to win,” Bakich said. 

“Sometimes good teams have to win ugly.”

The Tigers still have several months until they return to regular-season play, but even in October, the foundation for a competitive season is being laid in Clemson.