Clemson Run-Rules The Citadel to Sweep Midweek Series

Tryston McCladdie hustles to first during a game earlier in the season. (Photo By Charles Mays/Tiger View Media)

The Clemson Tigers faced off against The Citadel Bulldogs in the final game of a two-game midweek series. Clemson was able to sweep the series against the Bulldogs, winning this one 11-1 after a decisive first inning. Clemson improved to 21-2 on the season with this win, while The Citadel fell to 11-11. Chance Fitzgerald picked up the win for the Tigers, his second of the year. Zane Davis was charged with the loss, as he gave up five runs in 0.1 innings pitched. 

Clemson Takes Commanding Lead

After a clean inning from Noah Samol in the top of the first inning, the Tigers jumped on Zane Davis to take an early lead. The inning started with Dominic Listi and Jarren Purify reaching base on a walk to bring up Cam Cannarella. The South Carolina native came through for Clemson, lacing the first pitch he saw into right field to give the Tigers a one-run lead. Clemson continued to pour it on as a Josh Paino sac fly, and Luke Gaffney base hit put the Tigers up 3-0. A Collin Priest RBI double and Jack Crighton RBI groundout would give Clemson a five-run lead as the Tigers were able to bat around in the bottom of the first inning. But the Tigers were not done there as Dominic Listi gave Clemson a commanding 6-0 lead heading into the top of the second. 

Citadel Cuts Into Deficit

The Bulldogs got a run back in the top of the third inning to cut into the Tigers' big lead. The inning started with a leadoff walk to Robbie Lane and a Phillips Daniels hit by pitch to get the Citadel bats going. With two runners on and one out, Travis Elliot was able to come through for the Bulldogs with an RBI single to cut the Clemson lead down to five. Chance Fitzgerald got out of the inning and surrendered only one run after getting Garrett Fulmer and TJ Anderson out. 

McCladdie and Listi Go Deep to Blow it Open

Clemson extended their lead in the bottom of the third inning with home runs from Tryston McCladdie and Dominic Listi. The inning started with a Luke Gaffney single and a Collin Priest walk to get runners into scoring position for the Tigers. With one out, Tryston McCladdie took Wood's 1-0 pitch and belted it over the right-center field wall at 108 miles per hour. Clemson's on-base machine, Dominic Listi, made it back-to-back home runs as his right-center field shot made the seats to give the Tigers a 10-1 lead heading into the fourth inning. 

Clemson Walks it Off

The Tigers were able to run-rule the Bulldogs in the bottom of the seventh inning with a walk-off single. The inning started with a pinch-hit hit by pitch from TP Wentworth and a walk from Jack Crighton to bring up Tryston McCladdie. The Georgia native came through for Clemson, grounding a base hit through the right side to bring home Wentworth and give the Tigers an 11-1 win over the Citadel.

Takeaways

• Tryston McCladdie - The Sophomore came through big for the Clemson Tigers tonight, going 3-for-3 with a home run, a walk, and four RBIs. McCladdie had started the season off on fire and cooled off as the season went on, but tonight, the Georgia native showed just how important he can be to the Clemson lineup.

• Dominic Listi - The transfer from Indiana State has been crucial for the Tigers all season long, and he finally showed off his power in tonight's game. The Clemson leadoff hitter went back-to-back with Tryston McCladdie in the bottom of the third inning for his first home run as a Clemson Tiger. Listi has gotten on base at an extremely high clip this season and added one of the only things missing from his stat sheet. 

• Up Next: The Clemson Tigers will face off against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in a three-game set starting on Friday, March 19, at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.