“This super is insane man”: Fans taken aback as Clemson baseball’s Cam Cannarella hit game-tying 3-run homer in ninth vs. Florida
It seemed like a moment that could go down in Clemson baseball history. Had things gone differently, Cam Cannarella would have been remembered as the player who saved the Tigers' 2024 season. Down three runs to Florida in the top of the ninth, his three-run homer breathed life into his team's postseason hopes during Game 2 of their super regional on Sunday.
Although Michael Robertson’s two-run double in the 13th gave Florida a berth in the College World Series with an 11-10 win, fans reacted to Cannarella’s heroics.
"This game is drunk!!! That catch to end the inning is insane!!! Coach Dabo (Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney) might throw him a scholarship."
Despite ultimately winning the game, some Gators fans questioned coach Kevin O'Sullivan's wisdom in letting his pitcher stay for too long:
"Don't question Sully often on pitching decisions because he's one of the best in the game, but I just don't see why you wouldn't go to a fresh arm in the 9th and especially after 2 liners to start the inning."
It was a common sentiment:
"You can tell (reliever Brady) Neely was gassed. Shocked Sully left him in."
In general, fans loved this postseason action in South Carolina:
Florida rallies and Clemson falters: Gators win, Cam Cannarella and the Tigers lose
The game ended up going to extra innings, with Florida winning 11-10 on Michael Robertson's two-run double with the bases loaded. However, arguably, Florida's true hero was catcher Brody Donay.
In the top of the 13th, Florida reliever Luke McNeillie hit Clemson's Ty Olenchuk with a pitch. So, the Tigers inserted pinch runner Devin Parks to attempt a steal, but Donay picked pinch runner Devin Parks off first base. This moment became crucial when Clemson's Alden Mathes hit a solo home run, instead of a two-run homer, two batters later. Had Parks been still on base, Robertson's later heroics would have only tied the game.
In the end, Cam Cannarella wasn't meant to be the hero of the day.