Clemson drops Game 3 to Northeastern, suffers first loss of 2022 season

Clemson’s incredible winning streak to open the 2022 season finally came to an end Sunday afternoon.

Northeastern defeated the Tigers 5-3 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, snapping Clemson’s run of 14 straight wins to start the year. The start was Clemson’s best since 1992.

Tigers starter Nick Clayton allowed five runs — three of them earned — in 4 1/3 innings of work in the loss. That was all of the scoring the Huskies needed to come away victorious.

“They clearly outplayed us today,” Clemson coach Monte Lee said. “Ultimately their pitching was just impressive today. They were the better team and they won the game.”

Clemson trailed 5-1 heading to the bottom of the seventh inning, before Max Wagner homered to cut the deficit to 5-2. Jonathan French then hit a solo homer of his own in the eighth, trimming the lead to 5-3.

The Tigers brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth inning, but French flied out to end the game.

Northeastern starter Wyatt Scotti held Clemson’s bats in check as the Tigers managed only three runs and struck out 11 times against Scotti.

“Their starter, Wyatt Scotti, he was really tough,” Lee said. “He had three pitches that he commanded very, very well. He got deep in the game and just thought he did an outstanding job.”

Tyler Corbitt was 4-for-4 at the plate with a run scored, but the rest of Clemson’s offense was 3-for-30 hitting. Clemson’s 3, 4 and 5 hitters combined to go 0-for-11 at the plate.

Clemson relievers Jay Dill, Jackson Lindley and Ryan Ammons combined to pitch 4 2/3 scoreless innings of relief, but the damage had already been done.

The Tigers return to action on Tuesday, hosting Georgia State at 6 p.m.

“Very proud of my team,” Lee said. “I don’t think there’s anybody in the country that would’ve said that the Clemson Tigers would be sitting at 14-1 15 games into the season. I’m really proud of my club and what we’ve been able to do up to this point.’