Clemson baseball finally gets back in shape with win over Stanford

Clemson baseball finally found a way to start a conference series on the right foot, using a mix of steady pitching and timely offense to take down Stanford 9-3 on Friday night. The tone of the game was set early by Aidan Knaak, who delivered one of his more controlled outings of the season. He worked five innings, gave up just a couple of earned runs, and consistently missed bats with seven strikeouts.

Just as important, he limited free passes, issuing only one walk. After a stretch where Clemson’s offense gave him little support, this time the lineup backed him up. Once Knaak exited, Hayden Simmerson took over and essentially shut the door.

The right-hander handled the final four innings with ease, allowing just one baserunner while recording his second save. His outing erased any chance of Stanford building momentum late. At the plate, Clemson spread the production around, but Tryston McCladdie stood out in key moments.

He drove in three runs, including a big swing in the middle innings that helped create separation. Ty Dalley chipped in with a pair of hits and two RBIs, while Jason Fultz reached base multiple times and added extra-base pop. In the leadoff spot, Bryce Clavon created pressure all night, getting on base repeatedly and using his speed to disrupt the defense.