Stormy Saturday and a Staggering Seventh: Clemson Drops Game Two to Duke

Senior Andrew Ciufo (5)

After a thrilling 9-7 win in Friday night's series opener, the No. 6 Clemson Tigers returned to Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Saturday afternoon for Game Two against the Duke Blue Devils. A 30-minute weather delay pushed back the first pitch. The Tigers initially jumped out to a nice start, but it wouldn't last, as Clemson couldn’t hold off the Blue Devils’ persistent offense. In a game that featured 25 total runs, 23 hits, 19 walks, and seven different Tiger pitchers, it was Duke who emerged on top, winning 15-10 and evening the series.

Let’s break down how the afternoon unfolded.

Tigers Come Out Firing

Drew Titsworth got the start for Clemson, facing Duke lefty Andrew Healy. After a leadoff popout, Duke’s AJ Gracia cracked the scoreboard early with a solo home run to right field — the first of what would be a big day for him.

But Clemson responded with fireworks of their own in the bottom of the first. Cam Cannarella walked, and Jack Crighton dropped a bloop single down the right field line. After a strikeout by Collin Priest, Josh Paino launched a towering 427-foot, three-run homer to left center. That opened the floodgates.

Dominic Listi followed with a single and later stole second. Jacob Jarrell singled to left and advanced on the throw. Jarren Purify reached on a fielding error that brought in another run, then stole second. Luke Gaffney grounded out, scoring Jarrell. Andrew Ciufo ripped a single to left center for the sixth run of the inning.

Clemson sent 10 men to the plate in a massive first inning and led 6-1.

Duke Chips Away

Titsworth retired two batters quickly in the second but gave up his second homer of the game, this time to Macon Winslow. In the third, Gracia went deep again — his second homer of the game — cutting Clemson's lead to 6-3. A single and RBI knock made it 6-4.

Clemson loaded the bases in the third but failed to cash in, striking out twice to end the inning. It was a missed opportunity that would loom large later.

Titsworth finished his outing after three innings: six hits, four runs (all earned), two walks, and two strikeouts.

Bell’s Escape, But Duke Keeps Coming

Freshman Talan Bell came in for the fourth and promptly loaded the bases with a walk, a bunt single, and another free pass. But he calmly struck out the next three hitters in a gutsy, momentum-saving moment.

Ben Rounds cut into Clemson’s lead in the fifth with a solo homer, making it 6-5. After a brief appearance from Joe Allen, Clemson’s bullpen had managed to hold the line — until the floodgates burst open in the seventh.

The Seventh Inning Collapse

With the Tigers still clinging to a 6-5 lead, the top of the seventh became a nightmare.

Joe Allen walked the bases loaded in the pouring rain. Jacob McGovern entered and induced a double play to escape. But that control lapse was just a preview. McGovern, TP Wentworth, and Chance Fitzgerald combined to walk or hit six batters. Errors and timely Duke hits turned a close game into a disaster.

When the dust settled, Duke had scored 10 runs in the inning on just four hits, aided by three walks, a hit-by-pitch, and a costly error. Clemson soon trailed 15-6.

Tigers Rally, But It’s Too Late

Clemson showed some fight in the bottom of the seventh. Jacob Jarrell walked, Luke Gaffney singled, and Cam Cannarella all added an RBI single. Then, with the bases loaded, Collin Priest reached on a throwing error that brought in two more runs. Still, it wasn’t enough. A strikeout ended the inning with Clemson trailing 15-9.

In the ninth, Luke Gaffney doubled and scored on a Cam Cannarella single, but that was as close as the Tigers would get. Jack Crighton grounded into a game-ending double play. The Tigers would drop this game 15-10.

Postgame Reaction

Head Coach Erik Bakich didn’t sugarcoat things.

“We’re still getting out of our funk,” Bakich said. “That’s not who we are and how we want to be. You’re not gonna clinch championships and awesome things in sport when you play clinched. This is part of our journey, this is part of our story.”

He’s right. Clemson is too talented to be unraveling like this — but right now, they are.

Final Thoughts

Saturday’s loss felt like a microcosm of Clemson’s recent stretch: flashes of elite potential early, but undone by a lack of execution in key moments.

Pitching Depth Concerns: The Tigers used seven pitchers, none of whom looked particularly sharp. Control issues — especially during the seventh inning meltdown — gave Duke free passes and second chances. That can't happen in postseason baseball that is soon coming up.

Inconsistent Approach at the Plate: The 15 strikeouts were glaring. Even with 10 runs on the board, Clemson left opportunities on the table. The missed bases-loaded chance in the third was pivotal, and the inability to string together hits after the first inning let Duke claw back in.

If Clemson wants to make a deep run in June, it must clean up the details. The Tigers clearly have the firepower to hang with anyone, but they’re trending in the wrong direction in close, high-pressure situations.

The good news? There’s still time to get right. A win in Sunday’s rubber match would provide both a series win and a confidence boost heading into the final regular season series.

Up Next

The Tigers and Blue Devils square off in the series finale on Sunday at 1 p.m., with coverage on ACCNX.