UNC Ends Clemson Drought with Gritty 14-Inning Win to Even Series

CLEMSON, S.C—The Goonies, Black Sabbath and the 2026 North Carolina team have something in common: they never say die. The Tar Heels defeated the Clemson Tigers 6-4 after fourteen innings on Saturday, their fourth bonus baseball contest of the year, breaking the seven game losing streak at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

For those who did not watch the game, it is epic must watch baseball. The five hour bout featured a should be senior in high school dealing six scoreless innings, a suicide squeeze and a hodgepodge of defensive plays. 

Here’s what you need to know from UNC’s marathon 14-inning win to even the road series: 

‘Never Say Die’

It’s like the Three Musketeers, all for one and one for all. The UNC team has bought into that mentality and it’s never showed better than going into extras on the road and coming out on top. Even yesterday two homers late were a sign of life for a previously rag doll-esque offense.

Head coach Scott Forbes called his team together for a full team huddle during the seventh inning stretch in the third base dugout of Doug Kingsmore and told his team to relax, to put their best swing on the ball and not worry about what they were not doing but what they could do. In the eighth, the at-bats began to improve, in the ninth the Tar Heels scored the tying run. 

There is a reason the game went to extras, UNC was .105 (2-19), they struck out 15 times and had bases loaded twice and couldn’t convert. There were uncompetitive pitches, 12 free passes and some defensive ‘oh no’s’. But it’s all about the response and UNC kept it close enough to send the game to extras. The extras were not always pretty with double plays, lazy fly balls and strikeouts but the small plays delivered UNC the win.

People can say what they will about runners in scoring position, plate discipline, defense and so on but this Tar Heel team is going to play 27 outs…if not 42 when necessary. That level of grit and fight is not something that can simply be taught. 

Globe’s Life (Field)

Caden Glauber should be feared, he is nails. Not only did the should-be 18-year-old senior in high school combat all the Clemson bullpen bullies and enter a tie game in the bottom of the 9th inning but he delivered six scoreless frames in 101 total pitches and kept nine base runners away from home. 

Tyler Howe said it best…“he’s a stud.” 

The mental fortitude is as impressive as his pitch mix, and he made the Clemson hitters work for every inch. He wasn’t fazed by walks, hits, or hit batters. He found a way to stay in it and as Forbes loves to say “compete”.  The ultimate Houdini move: Clemson had bases loaded with one out and a 3-0 count and Glauber came away unscathed. Not only that but Glauber did not have precise control of his fastball the entire time, so if this is him a tick off, completely on should be terrifying. 

Glauber was supported by a defensive that struggled previously, with two Dr. French catches in extras and heads up plays by Macon Winslow behind the dish to assist in keeping Clemson without a walk off. 

Roses of the Game:

Macon Winslow… for catching Jarren Purify stealing, stepping on home to tag out the would be winning run in Nate Savoie and catching 14 stressful innings without a wild pitch or a passed ball. 

Tyler Howe…for attending the Colby Wilkerson school of clutch bunting for putting just enough touch on the ball to dribble right in front of him ensuing a perfect execution of a suicide squeeze. 

Jadyn Nunez…for having two great pinch hitting at bats, walking in the 11th and singling up the middle in the 12th. Also for his part in the suicide squeeze. 

Owen Hull…for going 3-for-6 with an RBI and a perfect slide home in the nick of time to add an insurance run in the 14th. 

The Tigers and Tar Heels will duel one final time at Doug Kingsmore Sunday at 12:30 p.m.