Clemson baseball loses marathon game, moves to brink of elimination in NCAA Tournament
It took a marathon evening to end Clemson’s 17-game winning streak and send the Tigers into a season-ending elimination situation.
Tennessee got an RBI double from Hunter Ensley in the top of the 14th inning to beat Clemson, 6-5, in the critical winner’s bracket game at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Saturday.
The Tigers (44-18) haven’t started regional play 2-0 since 2011, and they’ll try to keep their season alive Sunday at noon against Charlotte, which defeated Lipscomb earlier on Saturday.
“Even though we lost, I’m proud of the way we fought,” Clemson coach Erik Bakich said. “There was no quit.”
The Tigers will be without star freshman centerfielder Cam Cannarella for the elimination game. Cannarella got ejected at the end of the 13th inning it appeared for something he said to a Tennessee player while coming off the field after a double play by the Tigers.
Bakich said he didn’t know what Cannarella said to get run, but both teams had already been warned to stop trash talking.
By NCAA rules, the ACC freshman of the year will be suspended, which is a big blow to a Clemson team that hasn’t made it out of a regional, home or otherwise, since 2010 and will need to win two games Sunday to stay alive.
The Vols (40-19) will await the winner of Charlotte-Clemson in a 6 p.m. game that can clinch the regional for the SEC visitors with victory after showing the mental fortitude to win Saturday.
“You can’t be upset with your effort, either team,” Tennessee coach Tony Vitello said.
Starting pitcher Caden Grice set a career-high for innings pitched for the Tigers, but he was lifted with two outs after he allowed back-to-back singles with Clemson up 4-2 in the eighth inning. Closer Ryan Ammons couldn’t get the final out as Zane Denton hit a three-run homer, his second bomb of the game, to give the Vols the lead.
Clemson came back in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game on an RBI single by Cannarella, who also hit a three-run home run in the Tigers’ four-run fifth inning.
Both teams had chances in extras before the 14th inning. Clemson spoiled a great opportunity for a walk-off win in the 10th. With the bases loaded and one out, Benjamin Blackwell hit into a double play that ended the inning after an official review overturned a safe call at first that would’ve won the game.
“We had our chances,” Bakich said. “Can’t say that we didn’t. We just didn’t get it done. We’ve got to live with that and know that we’ve got to do it the hard way.”
Clemson went through 10 pitchers, with Casey Tallent (1-1) taking the loss. The Vols needed just three because of Chase Burns, who allowed one run in 6.1 relief innings with eight strikeouts.
Bakich wasn’t ready to name a Sunday noon starter yet.
“They outlasted us tonight,” Clemson senior second baseman Riley Bertram said. “We’re excited for the opportunity to not be dead but still alive. We’ll be ready for tomorrow.”
Clemson Regional schedule
Friday, June 2
Game 1 – (1) Clemson 12, (4) Lipscomb 5
Game 2 – (2) Tennessee 8, (3) Charlotte 1
Saturday, June 3
Game 3 – Charlotte 9, Lipscomb 2
Game 4 – Tennessee 6, Clemson 5
Sunday, June 4
Game 5 – Charlotte vs. Clemson, noon (TV: ESPN)
Game 6 – Tennessee vs. Winner Game 5 (TV: ESPN plus)
Monday, June 5
Game 7 – (if necessary): Rematch Game 6 (TV TBA)
This story was originally published June 3, 2023 at 11:01 PM with the headline "Clemson baseball loses marathon game, moves to brink of elimination in NCAA Tournament."