Clemson baseball takeaways as Tigers earn latest Top 25 series win vs Louisville
The Clemson Tigers got six strong innings from pitcher Drew Titsworth in his first career college start and secured a series-clinching victory over Louisville with a 2-1 win Friday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
Clemson, ranked No. 2 by Perfect Game and No. 4 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, won its 35th game to improve to 35-6 overall and 13-4 in the ACC. Louisville, ranked No. 19 in the Coaches Poll, fell to 27-11 overall and 9-8 in conference play
Here's how the Tigers put together their 35th win of the 2025 college baseball season Friday.
Clemson catcher Jacob Jarrell stays hot
Clemson took its first lead on a no-doubt home run to left by catcher Jacob Jarrell leading off the fifth inning against Louisville starter Ethan Eberle. It was Jarrell's 10th home run of the season and his sixth in the past eight games.
Jarrell is the first Tigers player to reach double digits in home runs this season. He has eight home runs over his last 13 games.
Reliever steps up big in starter's shoes for Clemson
The big story of the day was Drew Titsworth, the sophomore right-hander making his first career start after 13 appearances in relief this season. He pitched as well as coach Erik Bakich or anyone could have asked, tossing six shutout frames and holding an offense that ranked second in the ACC in batting average to three hits.
Titsworth (4-0) struck out three without allowing a walk and threw 87 pitches, 59 strikes. He retired 18 of 21 batters faced before turning the game over to Clemson's bullpen in the seventh inning.
Titsworth got some help behind him when Reed Garris tossed a 1-2-3 eighth inning on just eight pitches to lower his ERA to 0.83 in 13 appearances (21 2/3 innings).
Lucas Mahlstedt picked up his 14th save despite allowing a two-out home run to Louisville third baseman and cleanup hitter Jake Munroe. Mahlstedt struck out Eddie King Jr. for the game's final out.
Clemson held Louisville to five hits and outhit the Cardinals, 6-5.
Luke Gaffney continues swinging hot bat for Clemson
The transfer first baseman hit an opposite-field double to the base of the wall in right with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning to score Josh Paino from first base and extend Clemson's lead to 2-0.
Gaffney picked up two hits in a 2-for-3 day at the plate. In the series' first two games, the 2024 Big Ten Freshman of the Year at Purdue has four hits in seven at-bats.
Bottom line
The Tigers are the only ACC team that hasn't lost a weekend series all season. That's going to be challenged with tough road trips to NC State (25-12) and No. 8 Florida State (29-7) on the horizon. In the meantime, Clemson can go for the sweep of Louisville in Saturday's series finale. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.
Follow us @Clemson_Wire on X and on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news, notes and opinions.
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