Clemson Freshmen Relievers Spark Offensive Explosion Against Stanford

Young Clemson pitchers hold off Stanford's potent lineup, allowing Tigers' bats to break out for 18 hits and 12 runs

Apr. 6, 2026 at 4:06pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the dynamic action of a college baseball game, with fragmented shapes and planes representing players, bats, and baseballs in motion, conveying the energy and excitement of the Clemson-Stanford matchup.Clemson's young relief pitchers and explosive offense combined to power the Tigers to a crucial ACC series win over Stanford.San Diego Today

Clemson's baseball team earned a crucial ACC series win over the weekend, taking two of three games against Stanford. The Tigers' offense exploded for a season-high 18 hits, led by multi-hit performances from several players. But the key to the victory was the strong relief pitching from Clemson's young hurlers, including freshmen Brendon Bennett, Dylan Harrison, and Danny Nelson, who limited the damage from Stanford's powerful lineup.

Why it matters

The series win was a much-needed boost for Clemson, which had struggled to start ACC play at 2-7. The Tigers' ability to overcome a 3-0 deficit and pull away late showed their resilience, and the performance of the young relievers was a promising sign for the team's pitching depth as they continue ACC play.

The details

Trailing 3-0 in the third inning, Clemson turned to redshirt freshman Brendon Bennett out of the bullpen with the bases loaded and no outs. Bennett limited the damage to just a sacrifice fly, keeping the Tigers within striking distance. Freshman Dylan Harrison and Danny Nelson followed with strong outings, combining for 4.1 scoreless innings to allow Clemson's offense to rally. The Tigers erupted for five runs in the sixth inning and three more in the eighth to pull away for a 12-5 victory.

  • Clemson trailed 3-0 in the bottom of the third inning.
  • Brendon Bennett entered the game with the bases loaded and no outs in the third.
  • Dylan Harrison struck out the first batter he faced with runners on first and second in the fourth inning.
  • Danny Nelson struck out five batters over the final two innings.

The players

Erik Bakich

Clemson's head baseball coach.

Brendon Bennett

A redshirt freshman pitcher who came in and limited the damage in the third inning with the bases loaded and no outs.

Dylan Harrison

A freshman pitcher who struck out the first batter he faced with runners on base in the fourth inning and went on to throw 2.1 scoreless innings.

Danny Nelson

A freshman pitcher who struck out five batters over the final two innings to close out the game.

Jack Crighton

A Clemson player who had a three-hit day, including his first home run of the season.

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What they’re saying

“The relief pitching coming in — Brendon Bennett, one of the unsung heroes of the day. Comes in bases loaded, no outs and minimizes, only surrendering a sac fly.”

— Erik Bakich, Clemson Head Coach

“Between Bennett, Harrison and Danny Nelson, they scored on a single that they were stealing on the pitch. Just happened to bloop it in, but the relief pitching did a really, really good job of holding down a very good offense. That is a very good offense over there.”

— Erik Bakich, Clemson Head Coach

“Our offense was really the storyline of the game. We had three zeros to start the game and then just started to get it going. We had crooked numbers. We had 18 hits. Every starter had a hit and some guys with multiple hit days. Good to see the offense come alive.”

— Erik Bakich, Clemson Head Coach

What’s next

Clemson has one more game at Santa Clara on Monday before returning home for another crucial ACC series against No. 6 North Carolina.

The takeaway

Clemson's series win over Stanford was a significant step in the right direction for the Tigers, who had struggled early in ACC play. The strong performances from the team's young relief pitchers and the offensive explosion provided a much-needed boost as the team continues its conference schedule.