CLEMSON — North Carolina ran a squeeze play in the top of the 14 inning that not only scored the go-ahead run for the visiting Tar Heels, but it got a second one to come across as well, as No. 5 UNC rallied to beat Clemson, 6-4, Saturday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Tyler Howe laid down a perfect bunt right in front of the plate, allowing Jadyn Nunez to score the eventual winning run, while Owen Hull scored on a throwing error from the pitcher on the same play. Both runs were unearned thanks to a previous error in the inning.

“We have nobody to blame but ourselves,” Clemson head coach Erik Bakich said. “We had multiple opportunities (to win). We had an opportunity to close it late in regulation and then we had multiple chances to win it in the ninth, tenth and the eleventh (innings).

“It came down to the fourteenth, but we had plenty opportunities before that and we just did not get it done.”

Saturday’s game was the longest at Doug Kingsmore Stadium since the Tigers lost to Tennessee in 14 innings in the 2023 Clemson Regional. Clemson has now lost five straight extra inning games, including both this season.

The Tigers lost to Miami in 10 innings on March 26 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The Miami loss was another game in which the Tigers had a late lead and the game slip away.

“We have to turn the page quick, and not let any of how we feel right now affect our mindset tomorrow,” Bakich said. “If anything, it needs to go the other direction and we need to come out tomorrow with the right mindset.

“We have let some games slip away, but we need to come out tomorrow and have better execution in those opportunities to put the game away.”

Clemson (23-13, 5-9 ACC) was led by Jack Crighton’s 2-for-6 day at the plate, while Jacob Jarrell (2-5) had a home run and Jackson Moore (2-6) drove in two runs. Tyler Lichtenberger was also 2-for-6 with an RBI.

For a second straight Saturday the Tigers wasted another solid performance from starter Michael Sharman on the mound. After a great performance at Stanford last week, the lefty limited the Tar Heels to two earned runs off five hits.

Clemson blew a late lead at Stanford last Saturday, which also resulted in a loss.

“We are in a backs-against-the-wall-place that we have been in for a while. We put ourselves here,” Bakich said. “It is not about talking, you have to go out and do it.”

In five innings of work, Sharman struck out six batters and walked one against the Tar Heels. He threw 75 pitches overall, 51 were for strikes.

The Tennessee transfer pitched his best when it appeared UNC had him on the ropes.

“Sharman pitched well. Dion (Brown) pitched well,” Bakich said.

North Carolina (29-6-1, 12-5 ACC) took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning, but things could have been worse. After Sharman gave up a walk, single and a balk the start the inning, Owen Hull singled to first base to bring home the Heels’ second run of the game.

With runners on the corners, Sharman struck out Collin Hynek looking for the first out. He then fanned Tyler Howe swinging and then completed striking out the side after Cooper Nicholson chased strike three.

After Clemson claimed the lead, 3-2, with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, Carolina loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth inning. With a full-count, however, Sharman was able to get Hull to fly out to centerfield to preserve his one-run lead.

Clemson took the lead in the fourth inning after Jarrell launched a bomb to left centerfield, tying the game at 2-2. It was Jarrell’s team-leading 13th home run and 32 RBI.

Lichtenberger followed Jarrell’s home run with a base hit through the right side. Then a throwing error by Nicholson allowed Lichtenberger to move to third base and eventually come home, for a 3-2 lead, on Moore’s fielder’s choice to second base.

It was Moore’s second RBI of the afternoon. The leftfielder also singled to left centerfield in the second inning that scored Luke Gaffney, who led off that inning with a double to the gap in left center.

The Tar Heels had the tying run at third base with two outs in the top of the seventh inning. However, reliever Dion Brown got Macon Winslow to swing at a 2-2 pitch to end the threat.

The Tigers manufactured a run in bottom of the seventh inning to extend their lead to 4-2. With one out, Lichtenberger drew an RBI walk on four pitches off UNC reliever Walker McDuffie. They could have added to the lead, but Jason Fultz hit into a double play at short to end the inning.

The double play came back to bite Clemson.

The Tar Heels picked up a run in the eighth inning to move within one run and then tied things in the top of the ninth inning as Jake Schaffner just beat the tag while sliding into home plate on a sharp ball hit to third base by Erik Paulsen.

Fultz made a good throw home, after making a diving stab, but Schaffner was just a little too fast, which ultimately forced extra innings.

After Schaffner scored, UNC loaded the bases, still with one out, but Clemson reliever Ariston Veasey struck out the side to end the Tar Heel ninth.

“There was no doubt in my mind we were going to win this game when Veasey comes in and punches out two with the bases load. I was like, ‘That is it. That is the momentum we needed.’ And then he gets the big double play the next inning or the inning after that, whatever it was, he pitched really well,” Bakich said.

Clemson had Crighton representing the winning run in the bottom of the ninth. With two outs, he sat 90-feet away, but UNC pitcher Caden Glauber got out of the jam by getting Lichtenberger to strike swinging, sending the game into extra innings.

The Tigers loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning and failed again to get the winning run across the plate. Nate Savoie hit into a fielder’s choice at home and then Crighton flew out to right to end the inning.

In the 11th inning, Clemson had the winning run at second base with two outs, but Glauber got out of the jam, again, by getting Moore to strikeout swinging.

The Tar Heels had an opportunity to take the lead in the 12th inning when Nicholson hit a ball to no-mans land that dropped safely in centerfield. However, as Howe came trucking home with two outs, Crighton threw a strike to Savoie, who easily tagged him out to keep the game tied.

UP NEXT

Clemson and UNC will meet Sunday at 12:30 p.m., in Game 3. The rubber match will be televised on ESPN2.

—photo courtesy of Clemson Athletics Communications