Baseball Battles No. 19 Clemson Tough on Opening Day

Friday, February 13

Clemson, S.C.

4:00 p.m.

Army West Point

0-1

No. 19 Clemson

1-0

Army West Point

Clemson

Photo by: Noah Murray, Army Baseball

Baseball Battles No. 19 Clemson Tough on Opening Day

February 13, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score

CLEMSON, S.C. – Army West Point baseball held the lead as Take Me Out to the Ballgame was sung at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Friday, but gave up runs in the seventh and the eighth innings to fall 3-2 to the No. 19 Clemson Tigers to open the three-game series and the 2026 season.

After taking a 2-0 cushion into the bottom of the seventh, the Tigers tied the contest with a two-run home run in the seventh and another in the eighth to take the lead.

Army however wouldn't go down without a fight. With two outs in the ninth and nobody on base, William Parker and Jack Quinlan each recorded singles to bring put the go-ahead run on base.

However, Army would run out of outs to ultimately drop the first of three games at Clemson.

Starting pitcher Andrew Berg tossed six and a third innings, striking out four Clemson batters, walking just two, and exiting the game with the contest tied 2-2. He took a no-decision on Friday.

Jakob Vanderhave came out of the bullpen and recorded a career-best five outs, but absorbed the decision.

It was the first day of Heroes Weekend at Clemson, and both teams' players were able to greet veterans in the attendance during an inning break, in an inspiring display of spirit and patriotism.

After Berg kept the Tigers off the board with the help of a double play in the bottom of the first inning, Army drew first blood in the second off a Chris Barr RBI infield single to bring home John McKillop with two outs. The frame also featured David Dubrule's first career hit.

A six-pitch perfect second inning followed for Berg in the second, and the Black Knights had an opportunity to extend their lead in the third, but Parker was tagged out at the plate to keep the game at 1-0.

Berg once again faced the minimum number of batters in the third to keep Army ahead, with two strikeouts to bookend a pickoff at first base.

In the fourth, the senior pitcher faced his first real jam of the day, finding himself with the bases loaded. But with a 3-2 count, Berg got his third strikeout of the contest to keep the Army lead intact.

Quinlan doubled that lead in the top of the seventh, with a two out solo home run deep to left to make it 2-0 in favor of Army.

Clemson however would score the first two of its three unanswered runs in the bottom of the inning on the way to its win.

By the Numbers

3-for-4: Quinlan and Carter Hewitt each went 3-for-4, with Quinlan going for extra bases twice.

2-for-3: Dubrule was 2-for-3.

.375: Army hit .375 with two outs.

5,893: The crowd of 5,893 fans at Doug Kingsmore Stadium was the largest Army has played in front of since March 7, 2023 at Arkansas.

Black Knight Notes

Dubrule—a freshman—made his first career start.

Quinlan and right fielder JT Craig made their first career opening day starts.

Barr, Hewitt and center fielder Addison Ainsworth each made their third career opening day starts.

Shortstop Thomas Schreck made his fourth career opening day start at Army.

Vanderhave made his first pitching appearance since 2024, and his one and two thirds innings pitched represented his career-high.

Next Up

Army and Clemson will conclude the weekend series with a Saturday doubleheader. First pitch of the twin bill from Doug Kingsmore Stadium is set for 12:00 p.m.

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