No. 9 Virginia Edges Clemson 5-4

Cavaliers hit four home runs to defeat Tigers in ACC baseball action

Apr. 18, 2026 at 10:48pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the dynamic movements and energy of a baseball game, with sharp planes of navy blue, orange, and white intersecting to create a visually striking, abstract composition.A cubist interpretation of the intense back-and-forth action on the baseball diamond as two top ACC teams battled it out.Charlottesville Today

In a close ACC baseball matchup, the No. 9 Virginia Cavaliers defeated the Clemson Tigers 5-4 on Saturday afternoon. Virginia hit four home runs, including two from Harrison Didawick, to edge out Clemson at Disharoon Park.

Why it matters

This was an important conference game between two top ACC baseball programs. The win helps Virginia improve its conference record and standings, while the loss drops Clemson further down in the ACC rankings.

The details

Virginia jumped out to an early lead with an inside-the-park home run from Didawick in the first inning. The Cavaliers then added solo homers from Joe Tiroly and Sam Harris to build a 3-1 advantage. Clemson battled back with RBI singles from Jacob Jarrell and Kyle Johnson, but Didawick's second homer and a solo shot from Bryce Clavon proved to be the difference for Virginia.

  • The game was played on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
  • Clemson scored the first run of the game in the top of the first inning.

The players

Harrison Didawick

A Virginia player who hit two solo home runs in the game.

Joe Tiroly

A Virginia player who hit a solo home run in the third inning.

Sam Harris

A Virginia player who hit a solo home run in the fourth inning.

Jacob Jarrell

A Clemson player who hit an RBI single in the first inning to score the game's first run.

Kyle Johnson

A Clemson player who hit an RBI single in the sixth inning to score a run for the Tigers.

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What’s next

Clemson will host USC Upstate on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at 7 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.

The takeaway

The win helps Virginia maintain its position as a top team in the ACC, while the loss is a setback for Clemson as it looks to improve its conference standing. The game featured strong offensive performances, particularly from Virginia's home run hitters.