Tigers Win a Wild One: Clemson Baseball Clinches Series Over Stanford in 11-10 Thriller

Jacob Jarrell (Photo By John Meldrum)

Some games are all about grit. Others are just downright chaotic. Saturday night’s matchup at Doug Kingsmore Stadium was both and then some. Game two between No. 3 Clemson and Stanford had just about everything: home runs, defensive miscues, pitching changes galore, and enough momentum swings to give both fanbases a headache. But when the dust finally settled under the lights, it was the Tigers who held on, outlasting the Cardinal 11-10 to lock up another ACC series win. Let’s rewind and walk through the madness that unfolded in this absolute rollercoaster of a game inside of Doug Kingsmore Stadium tonight.

Priest Gets the Party Started

Things couldn’t have started better for Clemson. After a clean top of the first from starter Ethan Darden,who worked around a leadoff double, Dominic Listi and Cam Cannarella drew walks to open the bottom half. Then came Collin Priest, and he didn’t waste time.

One big swing later and the ball was sitting on top of the batting cage in right field. Just like that, it was 3-0 Clemson. It was Priest’s seventh bomb of the season, and it chased Stanford starter Ryan Speshyock from the game before he could record an out. But as we’d come to find out, that early cushion would be anything but comfortable.

Stanford Storms Back

Darden ran into serious trouble in the second. Stanford came out swinging, putting up a five-spot thanks to a two-run single from Ethan Hott, an RBI from Trevor Haskins, and a couple of defensive lapses including a dropped fly ball in right by freshman TP Wentworth. Suddenly, the Tigers trailed 5-3 and Darden’s night was done before the end of the inning.

Joe Allen came in and slammed the door to stop the bleeding but Clemson needed a response. Fast.

Tigers Would Deliver

Josh Paino jump started the bottom of the second with a double off the wall, and from there, the Tigers' offense erupted again. Paino, Listi, Purify, Priest, and Gaffney all came through with key swings, and when the smoke cleared, Clemson had put up a five-run inning of their own to retake the lead, 8-5.

You could tell right then: this was going to be a game where no lead felt safe.

Trading Blows

Stanford answered again in the top of the third, with Haskins launching a two-run homer off Allen. In the fourth, things unraveled a bit for the Clemson bullpen. After Nathan Dvorsky and Drew Titsworth combined to put runners on, Stanford tied the game and took the lead with a two-RBI single. By the end of the top of the fourth, it was 10-8 Cardinal.

Once again, Clemson had to dig deep. And they did.

Paino led off the fifth with a solo shot to left center, and Ciufo followed with a double. Listi drove him in with a clutch single, and the game was tied once more at 10 apiece.

Jarrell Delivers the Final Blow

Clemson needed someone to step up and give them the edge and Jacob Jarrell answered the call.

Leading off the sixth, the junior catcher sent a ball soaring over the center field wall, giving the Tigers an 11-10 lead. It was his third consecutive game with a homer and a huge moment in a pressure-packed situation.

Mahlstedt Nails It Down

The rest of the way, it was all Lucas Mahlstedt. The Clemson closer entered in the seventh and showed why he leads the nation in saves. Over the final three innings, he worked around traffic with poise and power, collecting five strikeouts and locking down save No. 12 of the year.

Final score: Clemson 11, Stanford 10.

Postgame Analysis: What This Win Says About Clemson

Let’s be real, this wasn’t Clemson’s cleanest game. They committed costly errors, went through six different pitchers, and went through two separate leads. But in the end, they did what great teams do: they found a way to win anyway.

Here are three key takeaways:

1. This Offense Can Rake

The Tigers scored 11 runs on 14 hits, and nearly everyone contributed. Priest and Paino continue to be massive sparks in the middle of the order, and Jacob Jarrell’s hot streak is adding another dangerous layer to the lineup.

2. Bullpen Depth Is Being Tested

Six different arms saw action tonight, and while Reed Garris and Lucas Mahlstedt came up clutch, Clemson's middle relief struggled. 

3. Mental Toughness Is Real

This team doesn’t flinch. Down by two? No problem. Lost the lead again? Let’s take it back. Clemson showed serious grit tonight, which is a trait that wins you games in June.

Up Next: Series Sweep

The Tigers will look to finish the sweep tomorrow at 3 p.m. in the series finale at Doug Kingsmore. The game will be broadcast live on ACC Network.