CLEMSON — It’s an understatement to say it has been a frustrating season for Clemson baseball.

The Tigers came into Saturday’s game against No. 13 Boston College sitting in last place in the ACC standings, a position the program has not finished in conference play since 1957.

But none of that mattered on Saturday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Clemson ran through the Eagles with 11 runs in the first inning to run-rule their ACC foe, 14-4, in seven innings. The win allowed the Tigers to even the series against BC, which fell to 35-15 overall and 17-9 in the ACC.

Clemson’s 11 runs in the first inning were the most runs by the Tigers in any inning since they scored 11 against the Citadel on May 18, 2019. The 11 runs also tie for the second most in Clemson history in the first inning of any game.

It does not stop there.

The 11-run first inning is the most runs in a first inning by the Tigers since they scored 12 against Marshall on March 10, 1987.

It does not stop there.

Clemson’s 11-run first inning matches the most it has scored to start an ACC game, since it scored 11 in the first inning against Maryland on March 27, 1986.

It does not stop there.

The last time Clemson scored 11 or more runs in an inning in ACC play was 17 against Notre Dame in the 2018 ACC Tournament.

It does not stop there.

The last time Clemson scored at least 11 runs in an inning in ACC regular season play came in 2005, when the Tigers scored 11 against Miami in the 4th inning. Clemson also scored 11 runs in an inning against Duke that year, as well.

How did Clemson (27-20, 7-16 ACC) score 11 first-inning runs, which helped snap its four-game losing streak overall and its five-game losing streak in the ACC? The Tigers tallied eight hits in the inning, while bringing 16 batters to the plate. Six different Tigers recorded a hit in the inning.

Boston College pitching also threw three walks and hit two batters to help the Clemson cause in the record first inning. The Tigers laid down two perfectly squeezed bunts from Tyler Lichtenberger and Bryce Clavon, which both scored runs.

The Tigers had back-to-back home runs in the inning from Nate Savoie and Luke Gaffney, while Savoie also doubled to leftfield. Jacob Jarrell doubled down the leftfield line later in the inning. Savoie scored twice and his homer to left centerfield was of a three-run variety.

Jason Fultz, Jr., was credited with 2 RBIs, as was Lichtenberger, while Tryston McCladdie, Jarren Purify and Clavon also drove in runs in the first inning.

Savoie and Lichtenberger finished the afternoon 2-for-4 at the plate.

Pitcher Michael Sharman, who was recently named a semifinalist for National Pitcher of the Year, improved to 6-1 on the mound this season. The lefty limited BC to two runs on six hits with three strikeouts in six innings of work.

UP NEXT

Clemson and BC will play the rubber match of their three-game series on Sunday. First pitch is set for noon at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.