Aidan Knaak struck out seven across five-plus innings of work and Tryston McCladdie drove in three runs, helping lead Clemson to a 9-3 win over Stanford at Klein Field at Sunken Diamond on Friday. It was the first series-opening win for the Tigers since ACC play began.
Knaak (1-3) allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits in five innings or work, while striking out seven batters and walking just one, in picking up his first win of the season. Friday marked the first time Clemson scored a run while Knaak was in the game since his start against Bryant back on February 20. The Tigers had been shut out in three in his previous four starts.
Hayden Simmerson relieved Knaak and went the final four innings, retiring 12 of the 13 hitters he faced, while striking out two to notch his second save of the season.
McCladdie had another productive night at the plate, finishing with three runs driven in. Ty Dalley went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored, while Jason Fultz finished 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Bryce Clavon also reached base three times after being inserted into the leadoff spot, scoring a run and stealing his third base of the season.
Clemson (20-11, 3-7 ACC) took an early lead in the top of the second, and all of the action came with two outs. Luke Gaffney drew a four-pitch walk, and Stanford quickly went to the pen, bringing in righty Kassius Thomas. Jason Fultz greeted him by hitting a single through the left side.
Dalley followed that with a single through the left side to plate Gaffney, making it 1-0. The Tigers had an opportunity to do more two-out damage after Tyler Lichtenberger walked to load the bases, but Clavon flied out to right, stranding all three runners.
After not making an error in the loss to Wake Forest on Wednesday, Clemson’s fielding issues resurfaced in the bottom of the third, allowing Stanford to tie it up. With a runner on first and two outs, Charlie Bates lofted one to deep center. Clavon looked to have caught the ball at the wall, but it popped out, and the runner at first came all the way around to score.
The Tigers retook the lead in the top of the fourth. Gaffney was hit by a pitch to start the frame, then Fultz drew a walk, putting runners at first and second with no outs. Dalley singled to drive in his second run of the game, putting runners once again at first and second with nobody out. Lichtenberger was then called on to bunt, but could not get one down, while striking out for the first out. A walk to Clavon loaded the bases, and McCladdie followed with a fielder’s choice to short to plate another run, making it 3-1.
Clemson extended the lead in the sixth. With runners on first and second with one out, Clavon singled back up the middle to drive in a run. He would immediately swipe second, putting runners on second and third, still with just one out. McCladdie then lined one hard off the second baseman’s glove, driving in both runners and making it 6-1.
Knaak hit the first batter in the bottom half of the inning. Cort MacDonald followed by hitting a two-run shot out to right, allowing Stanford to cut the lead to 6-3, and ending Knaak’s night. It was MacDonald’s second homer of the season.
The Tigers batted around in the eighth. A bases-loaded walk by Jacob Jarrell pushed across one run, and then Gaffney’s two-run single with two outs made it 9-3.
Bats Coming Around?
Clemson has struggled mightily when it comes to clutch hitting in recent weeks. After going 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position in Wednesday’s loss to Wake Forest, the Tigers were 5-of-15 on Friday. The team was also 6-of-19 with runners on and had three two-hits.
Still, the team only had eight hits on the night, with seven of them being singles. Stanford pitchers walked seven and hit four more, giving Clemson 11 free passes.
Injury News
Jay Dillard was a late scratch from the lineup due to illness. McCladdie moved over to second, while Fultz played third.
Up Next
Game two of the three-game weekend series will be held on Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for 5:05 p.m. Michael Sharman gets the start for Clemson, while lefty Sam Garewal goes for The Cardinal.
