Clemson baseball loses marathon game, moves to brink of elimination in NCAA Tournament

Brad Senkiw
·2 min read
1

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. The Tigers likely 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. By NCAA rules, the ACC freshman of the year will be suspended for the next game as well. Clemson can appeal the ruling.

Clemson hasn’t made it out of a regional, home or otherwise, since 2010, which is also the last time the Tigers made it to the College World Series. 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.

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 half 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 would blow several opportunities to go on top in extras, but the Vols came through after Clemson was on its ninth pitcher of the game. Casey Tallent (1-1) took the loss.

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)

Clemson’s Caden Grice (31) throws a pitch during a NCAA baseball regional game between Tennessee and Clemson held at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, S.C., on Saturday, June 3, 2023.
Clemson’s Caden Grice (31) throws a pitch during a NCAA baseball regional game between Tennessee and Clemson held at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, S.C., on Saturday, June 3, 2023.