CLEMSON – Aidan Knaak struck out eight, bringing his career total to 300, Jarren Purify hit his first home run in two months, and three Clemson players singled in the eighth to spark a comeback and defeat No. 13 Boston College 4-3 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium Sunday.
The victory marks the first ACC series win in over a month and the second of the season. With Saturday’s run-rule win, Clemson has won consecutive games– conference or non-conference– for the first time in nearly a month, and has now picked up its first series win over a ranked opponent.
Purify’s solo shot, his third of the season and first since coming back from a hand injury, came in the seventh inning, putting the Tigers (28-20, 8-16 ACC) within one run. Singles from Purify and three other players led to a two-run, game-winning frame in the eighth.
With Knaak’s performance, he became one of just seven Tiger pitchers in program history to eclipse the 300-mark. The feat has not been accomplished since 2000, when Ryan Mottl clinched the milestone.
Clemson has now defeated Boston College in 16 straight series.
For the second time in the series, Boston College (35-16, 17-10 ACC) opened all scoring in the top of the first inning. The Eagles’ first two batters reached on a single and a hit-by-pitch, and they were knocked into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. The leadoff hitter scored after a ball got by third baseman Jason Fultz Jr. and into left field for an error. Knaak got out of the jam by throwing the next runner out at home, and striking out his first batter of the day.
One frame later, Clemson answered with a single from Jarren Purify– his first since missing a month due to injury. A single through the left side from Jack Crighton moved him to third and a sacrifice fly from Jason Fultz Jr. brought him home, evening the score 1-1.
The Eagles took back the lead in the top of the third, and the rally started with a leadoff single from shortstop Julio Solier. Solier stole second, and made it home off the third single of the day for Boston College.
After the early action, both teams went cold in the fourth and fifth frames. The Tigers put only one runner on base in the third, fourth, and fifth innings combined. Boston College pitchers got through the fourth and fifth innings with only 18 pitches.
The Eagles broke open the offensive stagnation with a single in the sixth. After the runner made it to second, right fielder Collin Larson drove him home with an RBI single to extend the lead 3-1.
After the single, Bakich and company brought reliever Ariston Veasey in, concluding Knaak’s day. Knaak, a junior, finished with eight hits, three earned runs, one walk, and eight strikeouts in 5.1 innings of work. He has now recorded eight or more strikeouts in seven of his 10 appearances this year.
In the bottom of the sixth, Clemson doubled its hits on the day with a leadoff single from Savoie and a hard-hit bouncer over a defender’s head to put runners on first and second with no outs. That momentum ended quickly when catcher Jacob Jarrell hit it into his second double-play of the day. A strikeout left one stranded.
Purify plated his home run at 384 feet and 102 miles-per-hour in the seventh to cut the lead 3-2. In the next frame, freshman Jackson Moore, Savoie, Tryston McCladdie, and Purify all singled to drive in two more runs and secure the victory.
Veasey finished after 1.2 innings of work, with one walk and two strikeouts. Hayden Simmerson threw the last two innings, allowing one walk, no hits or runs, and three strikeouts.
Purify finished 3-for-4 on the day, Savoie was 2-for-4, and Moore, Crighton, and Gaffney each had one single as well. Purify’s blast was the only extra-base hit for either team.
Knaak Injury
In Knaak’s final inning of the afternoon, he was hit in the calf with a single that bounced up onto his leg. Clemson’s trainer, as well as Bakich, came out to check on him. After a few warmup pitches and walking gingerly around the mount, he was back into the game.
Up Next
The Tigers will play their next ranked opponent Tuesday when they will head to Conway, S.C., to take on No. 9 Coastal Carolina (30-13) at Springs Brooks Stadium. After a loss to the Chanticleers earlier in the season, Clemson will look to split the series this season.
Up Next
The Tigers will play their next ranked opponent Tuesday when they will head to Conway, S.C., to take on No. 9 Coastal Carolina (30-13) at Springs Brooks Stadium. After a loss to the Chanticleers earlier in the season, Clemson will look to split the series this season.