Box Score Score: No. 14 Clemson 6, VCU 2
Location:  Clemson, S.C. (Doug Kingsmore Stadium)
Records: VCU 1-4, Clemson 3-1
 
THE SHORT STORY: VCU Baseball fell to nationally ranked No. 14 Clemson on the road, unable to turn baserunners into runs in the middle innings, as the Tigers held onto an early lead in their home opener.
 
LEADING OFF:

• Freshman Nick Flores extended his hitting streak to five games with his first career two-hit game
• Sean Swenson belted his first home run in Black & Gold
• Also extending his streak, freshman shortstop Nick April-Gath notched his fourth hit over the past three games
• Zachary Peters tallied season highs with both six strikeouts and 4.0 innings of work
• VCU tied Clemson with five hits apiece in the game

 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Cade Dressler made his second Friday start, tossing a scoreless frame to open the game
• In the third inning, Clemson ace Aidan Knaak surrendered his first run as April-Gath and Flores singled back-to-back to get the Rams on the board
• The Tigers capitalized on a free pass in the home-half of the third to regain their two-run advantage
• Pulling within one run again, Swenson pulled his first home run as a Ram into the left-field viewing deck
• Peters took over on the mound in the fifth, holding the host to just one run over his four frames and fanning a season-high six batters
• The Rams fell to Clemson in their first meeting with the Tigers in program history, looking to even the all-time series tomorrow

 
UP NEXT:
VCU will get another chance to take down the Tigers the Clemson Invitational on Saturday at 4 p.m. before closing out the weekend against NC A&T at 11 a.m. on Sunday.