DURHAM, N.C. – After scoring 22 runs in three wins in the 2025 ACC Tournament, the 12th-ranked Clemson Tigers were routed by No. 3 North Carolina, 14-4, Sunday in the conference championship game at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
It marked the first time the Tigers lost in the ACC Championship Game since 2002.
It also marked the fifth time Clemson has been beaten by 10 or more runs this year, more than the last four seasons combined.
Through nine full innings, the Tigers generated three runs on seven hits with 12 strikeouts and nine runners left on base. North Carolina blasted 12 hits, including three doubles, with five walks and five strikeouts. Clemson used five pitchers to the Tar Heels’ two.
Nothing seemed to go as planned on offense or defense for Bakich’s squad, which was on a six-game win streak entering the championship.
In the fourth inning, when Clemson trailed 4-0, Collin Priest and Josh Paino hit consecutive singles, and Dominic Listi drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. With the tying run at the plate, Jacob Jarrell, fresh off Saturday’s grand slam, struck out looking at a fastball down the middle.
First baseman Jack Crighton caught the bug and followed with a swinging strikeout for out two. Right fielder T.P. Wentworth grounded out to second base for the third out.
Despite loading the bases with no outs, the Tigers could not dent the deficit. This moment, and other momentum crushers, kept Clemson from ever making the game competitive.
In the bottom of the first inning, Clemson starting pitcher B.J. Bailey and the Tigers’ defense forced a quick foul out and ground out from the top of the Tar Heels’ lineup for two outs. On the next play, a miscommunication from Listi, centerfielder Cam Cannarella, and shortstop Andrew Ciufo caused a dropped fly ball, and catcher Luke Stevenson advance to second.
One batter later, he was knocked in with a double to make the score 1-0.
In the second inning, Bailey hit two consecutive batters with a pitch and issued a walk to load North Carolina’s bases with one out. A sacrifice fly and an RBI single added two more runs to the Tar Heels’ lead.
After reliever Nathan Dvorsky handed North Carolina their first inning with no baserunners in the fourth, the Tar Heels responded with an eight-run fifth inning that included seven hits and three home runs.
North Carolina scored in four of its first five innings.
Bad day at the office
Florida State shut out the Tigers 10-0 in the 1997 conference championship game, and more recently, Clemson lost to the Seminoles 4-1 in the ACC Championship in 2002 in St. Petersburg, Fla., the last time the Tigers lost in an ACC Championship Game.
The last time Clemson lost a tournament game by 10 or more runs was in 2008 to NC State. The Wolfpack won 10-0 that year.
Clemson now has an 11-14 record in ACC Tournament Championship games. The Tigers’ 25 appearances are the most in ACC history, and their 11 wins are the most by any school, as well.
This is the 50th year of the ACC Baseball Tournament, and Clemson has played in exactly half of all the ACC Championship games. Clemson and Virginia are the only two teams to play in all 50 ACC Baseball Tournaments.
Up Next
The Tigers wait for their postseason fate on Monday, when the NCAA Selection Show will reveal Clemson’s Regional Tournament fate. The show will begin at noon on ESPN2.