CLEMSON – Nate Savoie is not the typical leadoff hitter.

While Clemson’s catcher and designated hitter may boast a high on-base percentage synonymous with number-one hitters, Savoie leads his team in slugging percentage and runs batted in, much more commonly found with other power hitters in the middle of the order.

However, since head coach Erik Bakich moved Clemson’s “offensive pacer” to the leadoff spot on April 17, Savoie has had arguably his best stretch of the season.

“I don’t care where I’m at,” the sophomore said after Clemson’s 14-4 run-rule victory over No. 13 Boston College Saturday. “I’ll hit no matter where I’m in the lineup. So, just try to start the game off right and nothing really changes. I don’t feel like I try to see a bunch of pitches because I’m trying to be a lead off hitter now. I just try to continue to be me and be the hitter that I am.” 

While the Tigers (27-20, 7-16 ACC) have struggled to pull out wins in this recent stretch, building up a four-game losing streak that was snapped with the win Saturday, Savoie has done his part to give his team chances to win. 

Since the second installment in a three-game series loss against Virginia in late April, Savoie has slashed five home runs, three doubles, and batted 10 runs in. The sophomore has maintained a .424 batting average in that span. 

On Saturday, in Clemson’s first win over an ACC opponent since Savoie’s leadoff debut last month, the Tigers’ batting average leader blasted a double and a three-run homer in two first-inning at-bats– a perk of being the first hitter with multiple trips to the plate.

Savoie got the Tigers’ 11-run, eight-hit first inning against Boston College (35-15, 17-9 ACC) started with the leadoff double, his 12th of the year. Leading to an early 11-0 lead, the offensive burst marked the highest-scoring frame during Bakich’s tenure and tied for second-most runs in an inning in program history. 

The Newport Beach, Calif. hit his 16th home run of the season eight batters later, bringing his total one shy of team-leader Jacob Jarrell’s 17.

“I’m kind of always trying to see the ball up,” Savoie said of his home run and fifth multi-hit game in two weeks. “Usually helps me not swing at stuff in the dirt. So just trying to be on the fast ball. Yesterday, I fouled off a lot of good fast balls to hit that were in the zone. I think I was late, so I was trying to be a little bit more out in front, a little bit more aggressive and less passive today. 

Savoie’s spark to the offense in the first spot was exactly what Bakich hoped to find after starting leadoff man Jarren Purify went down with a broken hand at the beginning of ACC play. Since Purify’s injury on March 28, the Tigers used three different leadoff hitters across 13 games before sticking with Savoie, a Loyola Marymount transfer.

“(The goal was) to just get him the most at-bats possible,” Bakich said. “And just felt like especially turning the lineup over, if we can find ways to get on base in the bottom of the order and have him coming up, or if it’s a situation with two outs and a runner on second, the lineup turns over and he’s coming up.”

While Savoie has been especially hot in the last few weeks, his production has been consistent for the Tigers all season, despite his team holding the worst record since Bakich took over in the Upstate in 2023. 

Savoie holds a team-high .348 average, and has notched 65 hits on the year, 10 more than any other Clemson player. He has batted in 50 of the Tigers’ runs this season, leading that category among all hitters.

“He’s a very good hitter,” Bakich said. “Regardless of today, he’s kind of paced our offense all season and been very consistent.

Now, the Tigers have a chance to claim their first ACC series win since Savoie took over in the leadoff spot, and win consecutive games for the first time since the first week of April. Clemson will get its opportunity to make their leadoff hitter’s work pay off Sunday, when the Tigers will host the Eagles in a rubber match at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

First pitch is set for noon.