Luke Gaffney, Jack Crighton and Jarren Purify all hit home runs as Clemson was able to hold on and salvage the final game of a three-game series against Virginia Tech with a 10-8 win on Saturday at English Field in Blacksburg, Va. The win snaps a four-game losing streak for the Tigers and comes in the final game of the regular season.
With the win, the Tigers finish the regular season 10-20 in ACC play, which is tied for the most losses in conference play in program history. This season also marks just the ninth time ever the program has finished with a losing record in ACC play.
The .333 winning percentage in league play is the third-worst in program history, and its worst dating back to 1987. It also marks the first time since 1986 that Clemson won less than 10 games in ACC play (not counting the COVID year of 2020). The Tigers were 9-4 in conference play in that 1986 campaign.
Gaffney led the way at the plate, finishing 2-for-4 with three runs driven in. He reached base three times. Crighton was 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored. Tryston McCladdie, Nate Savoie and Tyler Lichtenberger also had multi-hit games.
After Clemson (31-25, 10-20) stranded a couple of runners in the top of the first the Hokies made the Tigers pay for not capitalizing in the bottom half of the inning, pushing across four runs to quickly seize control of the game. It started when Ethan Gibson took an Aidan Knaak pitch out deep to centerfield. After a walk and a single put runners on the corners, Hudson Lutterman blasted a three-run shot out to left, giving Virginia Tech a 4-0 lead.
An RBI single by Jay Dillard in the top of the second got Clemson on the board, making it 4-1.
The Tigers would put up a crooked number in the top of the third, plating five runs. After Jarren Purify walked and McCladdie singled, Savoie would beat out an infield single, pushing across one run. Gaffney then hit a 403-foot, three-run shot to give Clemson its first lead.
After Jacob Jarrell fouled out for the second out of the inning, Lichtenberger walked and Crighton singled, putting runners at the corners. Crighton then took off for second on an attempted steal after a swing and a miss by Dillard. Lichtenberger came home on the catcher’s throw to second, pulling up the turf at home on his slide, and giving the Tigers a 6-4 advantage. Crighton would head back towards first on the throw to second, then successfully make it back to second on the throw home.
Virginia Tech (29-23, 15-15) would load the bases in the bottom of the fourth with nobody out against Justin LeGuernic. Nathan Dvorsky would be brought in out of the pen, and after allowing a sacrifice fly to make it 6-5, the right-hander would retire the next two hitters to get out of the jam with no further damge and the Tigers clinging to a one-run lead.
Clemson extended its lead in the top of the seventh. Gaffney was hit by a pitch with one out. After advancing to second on a wild pitch, he would come home an on RBI single by Jarrell. The Tigers’ catcher would also move to second on another wild pitch before coming home on a single back up the middle by Crighton, giving Clemson an 8-5 lead.
Purify smacked his fifth homer of the season, a solo shot with one out in the eighth, to give the Tigers a 9-5 lead.
Tech loaded the bases again in the bottom of the eighth with two outs. Dylan Harrison came in out of the bullpen and got a fly ball to left to strand all three runners.
Tech then made it interesting in the ninth. After already having plated one run off of Harrison to make it 10-6, the Hokies again loaded the bases with two outs. Peyton Miller, who was the fourth pitcher of the inning came in and allowed a two-run single, pulling Tech to within 10-8. Miller hit the next batter, again loading the bases. The freshman then got a fly ball to center to end it.
ACC Standings
With the win, Clemson avoids a last place finish in the ACC standings. The last time that happened was way back in 1957, when the Tigers went 3-11 in league play.
Pulling Starter Early
As was the case with Michael Sharman on Friday, Knaak went just one inning. The idea is to have both starters available to go early in the week during the ACC Tournament. However, Knaak had a rough go of it, allowing four runs on four hits, including the two long balls. After surrendering the first homer, Knaak threw two consecutive pitches behind the head of Henry Cooke, prompting umpires to issue warnings to both teams.
Pitching
Clemson used 11 pitchers in the win. After Knaak labored through the first, LeGuernic came on and pitched two innings, allowing a run on three hits in picking up the win (4-2).
Dvorsky, Landon Fowler, Talan Bell, Eston Simpson and Dylan Harrison then combined to hold the Hokies scoreless from the fourth inning through the eighth inning. Tech then made it interesting with three runs in the ninth as the Tigers used Harrison, Nick Frusco, Joe Allen and Miller in the final frame.
Up Next
The Tigers will begin the ACC Tournament on Tuesday and after winning on Saturday, should be the No. 15 seed, which means playing at 5 p.m.