In an impressive performance at the ACC Tournament, No. 12 Clemson secured a 6-1 victory over Virginia Tech at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Aidan Knaak delivered a standout pitching performance, tossing 6.0 innings, allowing just four hits, one run, and one walk while striking out six batters. This victory improved Clemson’s tournament record to 1-0, and the team now holds a season record of 42-15. Virginia Tech’s record fell to 31-25 with this loss.
Knaak’s win marks a significant milestone, making him the first Tiger to reach nine victories in a season since Mat Clark did so in 2019. His counterpart, Hokie starter Brett Renfrow, faced a tough outing, giving up eight hits, six runs, and two walks while striking out ten over 5.1 innings.
The game began with an exciting start as Ben Watson led off with a home run. Immediately after, Cam Cannarella extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a lead-off double and later scored on a wild pitch. Dominican Listi made a notable impact by hitting a two-run homer with two outs in the first inning and later contributed a two-run double in the fifth, helping to solidify Clemson’s lead. Cannarella added to the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning.
With this victory, Clemson advanced to the quarterfinals, poised to face No. 4 seed NC State on Thursday at 7 p.m., which will be broadcast on the ACC Network. As the designated visiting team, Clemson will occupy the first-base dugout, looking to carry momentum forward into the next round of the tournament.
Overall, this win showcases Clemson’s strong performance heading into the later stages of the ACC Tournament and their readiness to challenge formidable opponents like NC State.