What we learned from Clemson baseball's sweep of Boston College to end the regular season
CLEMSON — Clemson baseball swept Boston College in a three-game series at Doug Kingsmore Stadium to clinch the ACC’s Atlantic Division.
The No. 7 Tigers (40-13, 20-10 ACC) rebounded after Wake Forest swept them last weekend. They outscored the Eagles (22-31, 8-22) 33-16 to win their eighth conference series and first division title since 2018.
"We're happy about it, not satisfied (and) want to continue to build off of it," Clemson coach Erick Bakich said Friday are clinching the title. "(We) still have another level that we can even play at."
Clemson won the opener 12-10, thanks to Cam Cannarella's go-ahead three-run home run in the eighth inning. Then, the Tigers clinched the series and Atlantic Division, routing Boston College 11-6 after scoring five runs in the fourth Friday. They completed the sweep Saturday, earning a 10-0 run-rule victory in eight innings backed by Aidan Knaak's career-high 11-strikeout outing.
Here are three takeaways from Clemson's final home series of the regular season:
Clemson baseball's offense erupts vs. Boston College
There was no shortage of offense from the Tigers this weekend as they scored double-digit runs in each game and recorded 36 hits and six home runs in the series.
Cannarella, Alden Mathes and Jimmy Obertop each hit three-run homers in the opener. Blake Wright and Obertop both crushed a home run in Saturday's victory, and Wright homered again in the series finale. Clemson's high-scoring offense has been its strength this year and must continue to deliver in the postseason.
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Ethan Darden struggles in series opener
The sophomore pitched two innings Thursday before Matthew Marchal replaced him in the top of the third inning. Darden allowed two homers, including a three-run home run in the first. He has given up a homer in three straight games, and it was his shortest start since April 20 against Pittsburgh.
Clemson has won once in Darden's past six starts. In those outings, he has a 4.83 ERA with 39 hits (five home runs), 24 runs (17 earned), 14 strikeouts and five walks over 31⅔ innings. Still, Bakich said he is confident Darden will rebound entering the postseason.
"He's got a callous mind, and he's not going to let one bad start affect him," Bakich said Thursday. "I'd say it'll probably help him be even better for his next start. … There's a time to get roughed up a little bit. We'll take it this weekend instead of the next couple."
All eyes on the postseason
After winning its division, Clemson eyes more championships, including back-to-back ACC Tournament titles for the first time since 1993-94 and winning its first NCAA regional since 2010.
The Tigers will be the No. 2 seed in the ACC Tournament, which begins Tuesday at Truist Field in Charlotte, North Carolina. Then, they will await their seeding in the NCAA Tournament on Selection Monday on May 27 (noon, ESPN2).
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: What we learned from Clemson baseball's sweep of Boston College
