CLEMSON, S.C. – Sophomore right-hander Aidan Knaak kept the Cardinal bats at bay and No. 4 Clemson’s offense supported him with 11 runs on nine hits as the Tigers (32-5, 10-3 ACC) run-ruled Stanford (18-13, 5-11 ACC) 11-1 in seven innings on Friday from Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
Knaak allowed just two hits and two walks with six strikeouts over six innings to earn the victory and improve to 6-0 on the season.
The lone blemish on Knaak’s line was a solo home run from freshman Tatum Marsh in the top of the fourth inning. The round-tripper was Marsh’s third of the year.
Trevor Haskins was the only other Cardinal batter to record a hit, while Rintaro Sasaki drew a pair of walks.
The Tigers scored in five of their six offensive innings, plating two in the first, one in the second, two in the third, one in the fourth and five in the sixth to force the run rule.
Sophomore starter Joey Volchko was charged with the loss and fell to 2-2 after allowing seven runs (six earned) on six hits and five walks with five strikeouts over five innings.
The Cardinal will look to even the series on Saturday when the two teams continue the three-game set at 3 p.m. PT.
GAME NOTES:
- Stanford has dropped 10 straight ACC games after previously being swept by Cal, Virginia and No. 25 Georgia Tech
- The Cardinal was held to a season-low two hits in the loss … previous low hit total was four twice – including Tuesday’s 4-0 victory over UC Davis
- Stanford’s pitching staff issued six walks, four hit-by-pitches and was charged with three wild pitches
- The Cardinal was run-ruled for the fourth time this season, including the second time in the last three games
- Trevor Haskins (1-for-3) has hit safely in all but four of his games played this season and has reached in 12 straight
- Tatum Marsh (1-for-2, R, HR, RBI, HBP) has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games … has now reached in 27 straight contests and has a hit in all but seven of his games played