CLEMSON — Clemson tried to pull off one of those magical comebacks the program has become so well-known for but the rally would fall short as the No. 7 Tigers fell to No. 11 Wake Forest 12-10 on Saturday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Trailing by two, Clemson loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth with two outs but Collin Priest popped it up on the infield to end the game.

The Demon Deacons (19-5, 7-1 ACC) jumped on Clemson early, scoring 10 runs in the first three innings, before the Tigers (22-3, 3-2 ACC) had even registered their first base hit.

Wake finished with 15 base hits, including three home runs, one of which was a grand slam.

Erik Bakich’s team would come roaring back, scoring four runs in the bottom of the third and four more in the fifth to pull within two, but could never get closer.

Jacob Jarrell led the way at the plate going 3-for-5 with two doubles, an RBI and two runs scored. Luke Gaffney and Josh Paino both finished the afternoon with two RBI.

Starting pitcher Ethan Darden lasted just 2.2 innings in taking his first loss (3-1) of the season, allowing eight runs (six earned) on nine hits.

It was Wake Forest’s turn to come out of the gate on fire in this one. The Deacs got a solo homer run from Marek Houston with one out in the top of the first to take the early lead. Matt Scannell’s RBI single in the second would give the Demon Deacons a 2-0 lead.

The wheels then came off for the Tigers in the third. Two fielding miscues by third basemen Paino, including a fielding error, allowed Wake Forest to load the bases with just one out. Jimmy Keenan then launched a grand slam out to left, his third long ball this season, giving the Deacs a 7-0 advantage.

After two singles and a throwing error later in the third, Kade Lewis hit a three-run shot out to right-center, giving the Demon Deacons a 10-0 advantage. It was Lewis’ eighth homer of the season and second of the weekend.

The Tigers would push across four runs in the bottom half of the third despite registering just one hit. Jarrell singled to lead off the frame. After a Jack Crighton pop-up, Andrew Ciufo and Dominoc Listi both walked to load the bases. Jarren Purify was then hit by a pitch, plating Clemson’s first run of the day.

Cam Cannarella followed that up with a sharp ground ball to third, but Lewis’ throw to second was off the mark, allowing two runs to score and putting runners on the corners with just one out. After Collin Priest walked to load the bases up again, Gaffney’s sacrifice fly pulled the Tigers to within 10-4.

Clemson continued to try and claw its way back in it, plating four more runs in the fifth. Gaffney drove in a run with a single into the hole on the left side of the infield and Paino drove in another on a fielder’s choice. Jarrell then doubled into the gap in right-center, allowing Paino to come all the way around from first to score. Andrew Ciufo then laced a single into center, plating Jarrell and pulling Clemson to within 10-8.

After coming in out of the bullpen in the previous inning, Nathan Dvorsky walked the first two hitters in the top of the sixth. Reed Garris then came on in relief. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third with just one out. Garris struck out the next hitter and looked like he was about to strand both of the runners but on a 2-2 pitch Austin Hawke blooped a double down the right-field line that Trystan McCladdie couldn’t get to, driving in both runners and extending the Deacs’ lead back out to 12-8.

Clemson got both of those runs back in the bottom half of the inning. Jarren Purify reached and moved to second on an error to start the inning. He then moved to third on a fielder’s choice and scored on a wild pitch. Gaffney would later reach on another error and eventually come around to score on an RBI single by Paino. The next hitter was Jarrell, who launched one out deep to dead center, but Wake Forest CF Javar Williams went up and over the wall to rob the Tigers’ catcher of what would have been a tying two-run homer.

Clemson Bullpen

Chance Fitzgerald, Joe Allen, Reed Garris, Nathan Dvorsky and BJ Bailey held the Demon Deacons to four earned runs over the final 6.2 innings. The relief pitchers gave the Tigers a chance to come back and win it.

Hitting in the Clutch

Wake excelled with runners in scoring position on Saturday, going 6-of-17. For Clemson, it was more of a struggle as the Tigers were just 3-of-15.

The Deacs also had six two-out RBI, while Clemson had just two.

The Tigers were 3-of-13 with two outs, while Wake was 6-of-14.

Up Next

These two teams will meet in a rubber game on Sunday. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. and the game will be televised on the ACC Network.