CONWAY, S.C. — Clemson pounded out 14 hits and six pitchers combined to hold a dangerous Coastal Carolina offense in check as the Tigers went on the road and knocked off the No. 8 Chanticleers 8-4 on Tuesday night at Spring Brooks Stadium in Conway.
The win gives Clemson a split of the midweek home-and-home series, as Coastal won at Doug Kingsmore earlier in the season.
Freshman Danny Nelson made his first career start, holding Coastal scoreless and striking out two across two innings of work. Drew Titsworth also pitched two innings in picking up the win (4-3), allowing just one hit, while striking out two. Dylan Harrison threw a scoreless inning, while Hayden Simmerson allowed one run over the final two innings of play.
Jack Crighton tied a career-high with four hits, while Tyler Lichtenberger and Jarren Purify both had two. Tryston McCladdie drove in a pair of runs, while Nate Savoie reached three times, knocked in a run, and scored twice.
After back-to-back one-out singles by Purify and Crighton put runners at second and third in the top of the second, Bryce Clavon bunted to the first-base side of the pitcher’s mound. Purify scored as the only play was to first.
The Tigers (29-20) extended the lead in the third. After loading the bases with nobody out, Coastal brought Colby Richardson in out of the bullpen. McCladdie welcomed him by smacking a two-strike, two-run single into center. After Purify hit a shallow pop fly for the first out, Crighton singled to once again load the bases. Clavon then grounded one back up the middle that would result in a double play to end the inning.
The Chants (33-15) were able to get a run back in the bottom of the fifth. After reliever Ariston Veasey retired the first hitter, he then hit a batter and walked one. Rex Watson followed with a single into right, plating a run and making it 3-1. Veasey then struck out a hitter for the second out, before issuing another walk and loading the bases. He then struck out the next hitter, leaving all three runners stranded.
The Tigers got that run right back and more in the sixth. After Tyler Lichtenberger singled with two down, Nate Savoie hit one off the wall in right, resulting in an RBI double. Savoie would move to third on a wild pitch and then score on a fielding error, putting Clemson up 5-1.
The Chants charged right back in the bottom half of the frame, getting a two-out, two-run double from Walker Mitchell off Dion Brown, pulling Coastal to within 5-3.
Luke Gaffney added an RBI single in the eighth, while Savoie would later score on a wild pitch to push the lead out to 7-3.
A squeeze bunt off the bat of Jason Fultz plated a run in the ninth, giving Clemson an 8-3 advantage.
The Chants were able to add one run in the ninth on a sac fly.
Up Next
Clemson will host No. 14 Florida State at home this weekend for what will be a critical three-game ACC series. Game one is Friday at Doug Kinsmore Stadium with first pitch at 6 p.m.