CLEMSON, S.C. (Interstat) — In a game defined by missed opportunities and defensive miscues, the Clemson Tigers capitalized on La Salle errors to secure a 6-4 comeback victory in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

The win improved Clemson’s record to 13-1, while La Salle fell to 8-4. The result defied a pregame projection from Interstat’s simulator, which had favored the Explorers, though the service’s ELO rating heavily favored the Tigers.

Clemson starter Michael Sharman was the dominant force on the mound, earning top star honors. The right-hander silenced the Explorers over five innings, allowing just three hits and no earned runs while striking out eight. His performance provided stability after Clemson’s offense spotted La Salle a four-run lead before taking the field.

La Salle’s four runs came without a hit in the top of the first inning, as Clemson’s defense and pitching faltered. The Explorers leveraged walks, hit batters, and productive outs to build the early advantage. However, the Tigers immediately began chipping away against La Salle starter Jace Terry.

Jarren Purify walked and stole second in the bottom of the first, later scoring on a double play grounder by Blake Savoie to make it 4-1. The Tigers then erased the deficit in the third. With two on, Savoie reached on a fielding error by the La Salle third baseman, allowing Jay Dillard to score. Luke Gaffney followed with an RBI double down the third-base line, tying the game 4-4.

The most critical sequence unfolded in the sixth inning. After La Salle reclaimed a 5-4 lead in the top half on an unearned run stemming from a Clemson throwing error, the Tigers responded instantly in the bottom of the frame. With reliever Shawn Karpaitis on for La Salle, Cam Crighton reached on a fielding error by the second baseman, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a clutch two-out RBI double by Dillard to tie the game at 5.

La Salle again pushed ahead in the eighth, scoring an unearned run off reliever Hayden Simmerson after a fielding error by Clemson first baseman Gaffney loaded the bases. But the Tigers had the final answer in the bottom of the eighth. More Explorers’ mistakes proved fatal. Crighton singled and then advanced to third on a muffed throw by the left fielder on a pickoff attempt. With one out, Dillard delivered again, lifting a sacrifice fly to left-center field to score Crighton with the decisive unearned run.

Dillard finished 1-for-2 with two RBIs, both proving crucial. Purify added two hits and scored twice for Clemson. La Salle was led by seven hits but stranded multiple runners, going just 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position and grounding into three double plays.

After Sharman’s five strong innings, Simmerson and Danny Nelson closed it out for Clemson. Nelson earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief, striking out four. Karpaitis took the loss for La Salle despite not allowing an earned run in his two innings.

The teams were set to conclude the three-game series with the second game of the doubleheader later Saturday.