With Clemson’s season on the line, Cam Cannarella did everything he could to keep the Tigers’ College World Series hopes alive.
But in an extra-inning thriller against the Florida Gators, it just wasn’t enough.
In the second game of third-ranked Clemson’s super regional matchup with Florida, the 20-year-old centre-fielder officially marked himself down as a name to watch in the 2025 draft class with season-saving plays on both sides of the field.
It all started when Cannarella stepped up to the plate in the top of the ninth with Clemson trailing 9-6. With runners on first and second, the left-handed hitting Cannarella drove the first pitch of the at-bat over the wall in right-centre for a game-tying homer.
Cannarella’s heroics didn’t stop there, as Game 2 of the best-of-three series went on to extra innings.
In the bottom of the 10th, the Gators managed to get runners on first and second with two outs for their three-hole hitter, Ashton Wilson.
Wilson ripped a line drive over Cannarella’s head in centre, but the 2024 ACC Third Team outfielder did his best Willie Mays impression, making a leaping over-the-head snag up against the wall to keep the winning run from crossing the plate.
However, even after Tigers right-fielder Alden Mathes hit a go-ahead blast in the 13th, Florida responded to win the game in the bottom half. The Gators loaded the bases for outfielder Michael Robertson, who hit a walk-off double, ending Clemson’s season.
Florida took Game 1 of the super regional, which was played at Clemson’s Doug Kingsmore Stadium, with a 10-7 win on Saturday and with Sunday’s win, will advance to the College World Series in Omaha.
Cannarella was ranked the fourth-best college prospect in the class of 2025 in February by D1Baseball, but could certainly be moving up that list after his exceptional sophomore campaign.
In 57 games for the Tigers, he has a .973 OPS with 10 home runs, 56 RBIs and 16 doubles. He has also provided elite outfield defence throughout his time at Clemson, with a career .987 fielding percentage.