Tigers upend No. 7 Coastal Carolina, 8-4

CONWAY, S.C. – Clemson scored a run in the second inning and never relinquished the lead in its 8-4 victory over No. 7 Coastal Carolina at Springs Brooks Stadium on Tuesday night. The Tigers improved to 29-20, while the Chanticleers dropped to 33-15. The two teams split the home-and-home season series.

Bryce Clavon’s squeeze bunt in the second inning scored the game’s first run, then Tryston McCladdie lined a two-run single in the third inning. In the fifth inning, Rex Watson grounded a run-scoring single, but Clemson escaped a bases-loaded jam to maintain its 3-1 lead.

Nate Savoie laced a two-out double in the top of the sixth inning to score a run and extend his hitting streak to 13 games. Savoie also scored when Luke Gaffney’s ground ball was booted. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Walker Mitchell belted a two-out, two-run double to cut Clemson’s lead in half.

Gaffney blooped a run-scoring single in the eighth inning, then Savoie scored on a wild pitch later in the frame. In the ninth inning, Jason Fultz Jr. laid down a squeeze bunt to score a run.

Jack Crighton led Clemson’s 14-hit attack with four hits to tie his career high.

Drew Titsworth (4-3) pitched 2.0 scoreless innings in relief with two strikeouts to earn the win, while Coastal Carolina starter Jackson Smalletts (0-2) suffered the loss.

The Tigers host No. 12 Florida State in a three-game series, beginning Friday at 6 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.