CLEMSON –Drew Titsworth had never started a baseball game in his Clemson career. In fact, he had never thrown more than four innings in a game.

However, that all changed on Friday.

With regular second-day starter Ethan Darden struggling as of late, head coach Erik Bakich decided to change things up in Game 2 against Louisville, and it paid off.

Titsworth not only got his first start, but the right hander threw six scoreless innings, as No. 3 Clemson knocked off the 17th-ranked Cardinals, 2-1, at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The win allowed the Tigers to clinch the series, as they improved to 8-0 in weekend series this season.

“Pitching and defense was the story of the game,” Bakich said. “Obviously, Titsworth deserves all the headlines for making his first career start. He went six scoreless against a really good offensive team.”

The Clemson righty faced 21 batters on Friday, allowing three hits with no walks and had three strikeouts. Titsworth was the first righty not named Aidan Knaak to start a game for Clemson since Billy Barlow did against Louisville on April 28 of 2024.

“It is definitely an experience I will not forget,” Titsworth said.

Louisville (27-11, 9-8 ACC) did not have more than one run on base in any of the innings Titsworth pitched or on anyone else. The sophomore said it has been almost two years since he pitched as long as he did on Friday.

He threw 87 pitches and 59 of them went for strikes. Titsworth was complimentary of his defense, as guys like Andrew Ciufo, Jarren Purify and Josh Paino made play after play behind him.

“You just have all the confidence. You do not have to worry when there is a hard hit ball because there are seven guys behind you that are going to make a play on it,” Titsworth said.

Clemson’s offense did not fair much better against Cardinals starter Ethan Eberle, as he held Clemson scoreless through four innings.

It took five innings, but the Tigers finally got to him. The lefty did not give up a hit in the first four innings, but Jacob Jarrell opened the fifth inning by taking the first pitch 398 feet to left field. The home run gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

The Tigers (35-6, 13-4 ACC) got back-to-back hits with two outs from Luke Gaffney and Ciufo to run Eberle out of the game.

Clemson extended its lead 2-0 in the bottom of the seventh inning. After Paino singled to left field, Gaffney brought him home with a double off the wall in right centerfield to easily score Paino with the game’s second run.

Gaffney finished his night 2-for-3 at the plate.

From there, Clemson pitching finished the job Titsworth started, as TP Wentworth and Reed Garris did not give up a hit. The Cardinals finished the night with just five hits and did not score until Jake Monroe smashed a bomb over the wall in left field off Lucas Mahlstedt with two outs in the ninth.

Mahlstedt closed the game out to earn his 14th save of the season.

One away

Clemson’s 35-6 start to the season is one win shy of tying the 2002 team’s start of 36-6. No Clemson team has started a season with 36 wins in the first 42 games since the 2002 College World Series Team.

Up Next

Clemson and Louisville will close out their three-game series on Saturday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.