Clemson Handles Business Against Virginia Tech to Advance to Quarterfinals

Clemson Advances in the ACC Tournament!

The Clemson Tigers faced off against the Virginia Tech Hokies in the Second Round of the 2025 ACC Tournament in Durham, North Carolina. Virginia Tech took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but Clemson responded immediately to make it a 3-1 game. The Tigers would hold onto that lead the rest of the way and take down the Hokies 6-1. Aidan Knaak picked up the win for Clemson after six masterful innings. Brent Renfrow was charged with the loss after allowing six runs in 5.1 innings. Clemson now advances to the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament, while Virginia Tech will be knocked out of the tournament and most likely not appear in the NCAA Regionals. 

Virginia Tech Strikes Quickly; Clemson Responds

The Hokies got on the board first in the top of the first inning, thanks to Ben Watson. The Virginia Tech leadoff hitter pulled Aidan Knaak’s 2-2 changeup over the right field wall and into the seats for a quick 1-0 lead. That home run was Watson’s eight blast of the year, tied for the most in his collegiate career. In the bottom of the first inning, the Tigers responded right back to the Hokies with three runs of their own. The inning started with a double by Cam Cannarella and a single from Jarren Purify to put runners on the corners with no outs. A wild pitch by Brett Renfrow brought home Cannarella, who was originally called out but ruled safe after review, to tie the game at one apiece. After Collin Priest’s groundout, Dominic Listi belted a two-run home run for his fifth blast of the season to give the Tigers a 3-1 lead heading into the top of the second. 

Clemson Extends the Lead in the Fifth

After a few dominant innings by both starting pitchers, Knaak and Renfrow, Clemson was finally able to get back on the board. The inning started with a Jarren Purify hit by pitch and a bunt single from Collin Priest to put runners on second and first with one out. After Josh Paino struck out, Dominic Listi stepped up to the plate in a big spot once again. The Graduate Senior came through for the second time in today’s game with an opposite field double off the wall to bring home both runners. That two-run double from Listi was his fourth RBI of the day and 46th of the season to give Clemson a 5-1 lead. 

Six Strong Innings from Knaak

Aidan Knaak allowed the first batter of the game, Ben Watson, to take him deep, which seemed like a warning sign for the Tigers ace. But after that hit, Knaak buckled in and shoved the rest of the way. Knaak went six innings, allowing just four hits and a walk while striking out six batters to lower his season ERA down to 4.06. After Watson’s home run, the Hokies only got one runner in scoring position, which came off of Andrew Ciufo’s error in the fourth. Jacob McGovern relieved Aidan Knaak in the seventh inning. 

Clemson Tacks on Another

The Tigers kept the pressure on the Hokies as they tacked on another run in the bottom of the sixth inning. TP Wentworth got the Clemson offense going with his opposite field one-out double to put a runner in scoring position for Andrew Ciufo. The New York native came through with a single through the left side which advanced Wentworth to third, putting runners on the corners with one away for the dangerous Cam Cannarella. The Tigers superstar, who’s batting .444 (20-45) in the month of May, flew out to center field to bring home Wentworth and give Clemson a 6-1 lead. The score would stay the same until the very end, as Joe Allen shut the door on the Hokies in the ninth inning.  

Takeaways

• Dominic Listi - The Tigers fiery left fielder, who Erik Bakich has described as a mix of David Goggins and Jocko Willink, found his power stroke in today’s game. Listi went 2-3 with a home run, a double, a walk, and four RBIs. With those two hits, Listi raised his season batting average up to .299, which is second on the team behind Cam Cannarella (.332). Clemson needs Listi to keep hitting the way he has recently if the Tigers want to make a run this postseason. 

• The Pitching - Aidan Knaak to Jacob McGovern to Joe Allen to send Clemson to the Quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament. Aidan Knaak went six innings of one run ball, while Jacob McGovern and Joe Allen combined for three scoreless innings. Although there were concerns over the pitching staff heading into the season, Clemson has a slew of arms that they can trust in the bullpen. 

• Handling the Adversity - Before this game and the Pittsburgh series, Clemson was struggling to find wins. Erik Bakich mentioned that struggle during his in-game interview against the Hokies. Here’s what he had to say: “We needed that adversity…to get knocked down, to allow you to get back up. It might have lasted a bit too long… but we’ve felt like we did get up and we at least played our best ball last weekend at Pitt.” In classic Eric Bakich fashion, he handed the headset to Drew Titsworth shortly after that comment. 

• Up Next - The Clemson Tigers will take on the NC State Wolfpack on Thursday, May 22, at 7:00 PM in the Quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament.