Mack Anglin tosses gem as Clemson earns much-needed victory

Clemson needed a strong outing from ace Mack Anglin in Game 1 of its series at No. 23 Wake Forest. It’s hard to ask for a pitcher to do much more than Anglin did Friday night.

Clemson’s top pitcher tossed six scoreless innings and the Tigers got just enough offense to come away with a critical victory in Game 1 of their series against the Demon Deacons.

Anglin allowed only four hits and struck out six while throwing 102 pitches.

He eventually gave way to Geoffrey Gilbert, who pitched three scoreless innings of relief to earn the win.

Clemson’s only run of the game came in the ninth inning when Tyler Corbitt hit a sacrifice fly to score Cooper Ingle.

The Tigers loaded the bases with no outs to open the ninth Ingle and Blake Wright singled, before Max Wagner was hit by a pitch.

Caden Grice struck out swinging for the first out of the inning, before Corbitt delivered the game-winning RBI.

Bryar Hawkins struck out to end the frame, but the game was already done.

Gilbert hit the first batter he faced in the bottom of the ninth inning to allow the leadoff man to reach, but he followed that up by getting back-to-back strikeouts and a pop up to end the game.

The two teams will meet in Game 2 of the three-game series on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Clemson is attempting to win its first ACC series of the season.

The Tigers are now 21-12 (3-9) after Friday’s victory, while Wake Forest falls to 26-8 (9-7).