CHARLOTTE- Clemson once again worked some ninth inning magic as the No. 2 Tigers overcame a two-run deficit in the top of the ninth to beat Charlotte 14-12 on Tuesday at Truist Field.
Jacob Jarrell’s 2-run double with two outs in the ninth broke a 12-12 tie and put the Tigers back up for good, as he would finish the night 3-for-4 with the two RBI.
Tristan Bissetta’s sacrifice fly plated the first run of that crucial ninth inning, followed by an RBI triple from Jack Crighton that tied the game back up, before Jarrell’s heroics.
They would then need to hold off a potential rally in the bottom half of the inning. After a leadoff single to start the ninth, closer Austin Gordon walked the next hitter on four pitches. While he would strike out the next hitter for the first out, a wild pitch allowed the runners to move to second and third. Gordon would then get a pop out and a strike out to earn his eighth save of the season.
However, this was the second time in the past three games that the Tigers’ bullpen has not been able to hold a sizeable lead and 10 of the 49ers 12 runs came with two outs.
After Clemson took a 9-2 lead into the bottom of the fourth, the 49ers would outscore the Tigers 10-1 over the next four innings of play.
Rocco Reid got the start and after holding Charlotte scoreless over the first two innings, he would exit in the third with the bases loaded, having already allowed one run. Drew Tittsworth then came on in relief and would allow a grand slam to the second hitter he faced.
Reid was charged with six runs (two earned) on six hits. Tittsworth would allow two runs on three hits in 1.2 innings. Lucas Malhstedt would then allow four runs on four hits, including two home runs, in two innings of work.
Jimmy Obertop, Jack Crighton, Nolan Nawrocki, Cam Cannarella and Jarrell all had multi-hit games as the Tigers totaled 15 hits on the night.
With the win Clemson moves to 37-10 while Charlotte drops to 22-27.
In the top of the first, Cannarella continued his hot streak, driving the first pitch he saw to the deepest part of the park in center for a stand-up triple. Blake Wright would come around to score on the play. Cannarella would then come around on a two-out RBI single by Obertop, giving the Tigers an early 2-0 lead.
Clemson would add to the lead in the second. After Crighton singled and advanced to second on a throwing error, Nawrocki would rip a double into left. He would end up coming around to score on a wild pitch, putting the Tigers up 4-0,
Obertop’s 16th home run of the season, a solo shot in the third, made it 5-0 Clemson.
In the bottom half of the third, the 49ers would get three consecutive two-out hits, a triple, a double and a single, cutting the lead to 5-2.
Nawrocki would lead off the top of the fourth with a single, then move to second on a wild pitch. An infield single by Jarrell then put runners on the corners with nobody out. Another wild pitch would plate Nawrocki, putting Clemson up 6-2.
After Alden Mathes walked, putting runners at first and second, Jacob Hinderleider would hit a 3-run shot out to left, making it 9-2. It was Hinderleder’s 11th homer of the season.
The 49ers would answer right back in the bottom half of the inning, plating five runs of their own. After loading the bases with just one out, Tittsworth came on in relief of Reid. After getting a pop up on the infield for the second out of the inning, Shane Taylor launched a grand slam out to right, cutting the lead to 9-7. It was just Moore’s third homer of the season and just the third long ball surrendered by Tittsworth all season.
Mathes’ sacrifice fly to deep centerfield with one out in the fifth made it 10-7 Clemson.
Charlotte would answer again in the bottom half of the inning, getting a two-out RBI double off the wall in left to pull the 49ers to with two at 10-8.
The 49ers would hit an RBI double and two more home runs in the seventh to complete the comeback and take a 12-10 lead.
Up Next
Clemson goes on the road to face Wake Forest. Game 1 is on Friday with first pitch set for 6pm.
A limited number of signed footballs from Clemson’s 2022 class are still available. Get yours while supplies last! Visit Clemson Variety & Frame or purchase online!
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