During a late-game match at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Friday afternoon, Clemson rallied from a late disadvantage to beat Army West Point 3-2. Catcher Jacob Jarrell and outfielder Nate Savoie gave their late-game heroics against a dominating start by the Army pitching staff.
What started out as an intense defensive fight was played out as both early traffic came through the door for both starters on both sides. Clemson threatened to get away in the first inning after singles by Jarren Purify and Nate Savoie, but Army starter Berg escaped the jam.
Army broke the tie at 0-0 at the top of the second. After John McKillop reached on a walk and David Dubrule singled, a throwing error by Clemson third baseman Tryston McCladdie loaded the bases. Chris Barr then delivered an RBI single to shortstop and gave McKillop that led the Black Knights to score a 1-0 lead.
Clemson’s pitching staff, led by starter Knaak and reliever Harrison, kept Tigers within striking distance despite Army’s consistent pressure. Knaak struck out six over 3.0 innings of work while Harrison provided 4.1 innings of steady relief. Jack Quinlan struck a solo home run down the left-field line and the Black Knights pushed it in the upper half of the seventh to 2-0.
But the Tigers answered right away in the second half of the game.
Jack Crighton ignited the rally with a single through the right side. Jarrell then cleared the fences with a huge two-run home run to left field, sending the score back to 2-2 at the close and the momentum flowing back to the home dugout. McCladdie opened with a single (in the eighth) and soon put himself in driving distance by stealing second. A throwing mistake from Quinlan allowed McCladdie to move up to third. Savoie went on to hit the game-winning hit, a double to center field that handed McCladdie a 3-2 lead.
Allen went in in the eighth to close the door with a strikeout, striking out one in 0.2 innings of spotless relief, sealing the victory.