Live Updates: Clemson baseball’s Game 2 clash vs. No. 5 North Carolina

Clemson baseball opened its weekend series with a statement, knocking off No. 5 North Carolina 9-5 on Friday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium behind a complete effort at the plate and on the mound. The Tigers put together one of their more productive offensive nights of the season, finishing with 13 hits and getting contributions throughout the lineup.

Jack Crighton paced the group with a 3-for-5 performance that included a pair of doubles and a home run. Freshman Jackson Moore made his presence felt as well, driving in four runs while collecting two hits in key spots. Nate Savoie stayed hot, going 3-for-4 and adding his 11th home run of the year, while Jacob Jarrell chipped in with two hits to keep innings alive.

Clemson consistently found ways to create scoring chances, stringing together quality at-bats against a highly ranked opponent. Aidan Knaak delivered a strong outing on the mound, giving Clemson stability early in the game. The right-hander worked six innings, allowing just two runs while striking out nine and limiting free passes with only two walks.

His performance helped keep North Carolina from ever fully settling in offensively. With the win, Clemson moves to 23-12 overall and 5-8 in ACC play, setting up an opportunity to clinch the series on Saturday. Michael Sharman is expected to start for the Tigers, while Ryan Lynch is the projected starter for North Carolina.