Alden Mathes – Syndication Server

Erik Bakich discusses Clemson’s loss to Florida in Super Regional

Here’s everything Clemson coach Erik Bakich had to say after the Tigers fell 10-7 to Florida in Game 1 of the Super Regional on Saturday.

A seven-run fifth inning lifted the Florida Gators to a 10-7 victory over the Clemson Tigers in Game 1 of the Clemson Super Regional Saturday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Florida (32-28) erupted for seven runs on four hits, three walks and an error to erase a 4-2 deficit en route to the victory.

Jac Caglianone hit a three-run homer as part of the fifth-inning onslaught, his 32nd of the season. The Gators also got run-scoring hits from Michael Robertson and Luke Heyman that inning.

Right-hander Brandon Neely closed things out with four scoreless innings in relief to put Clemson (44-15) in a win-or-go-home game Sunday when the two teams meet for Game 2. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. EDT. The game can be seen on ESPN. Right-hander Aidan Knaak will start for Clemson and face Caglianone.

After Saturday’s game, Clemson coach Erik Bakich and Alden Mathes met with reporters to discuss the loss. Here’s a video of everything the coach and Tigers’ leadoff hitter had to say.

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Clemson run rules SC Upstate in midweek contest

Clemson Baseball: No. 2 Clemson defeated USC Upstate, 11-1, in seven innings Tuesday.

GREENVILLE, S.C. – No. 2 Clemson scored five runs in the second inning and five runs in the fifth inning in its 11-1 victory in seven innings over USC Upstate at Fluor Field on Tuesday night. The Tigers, who took a 2-0 lead in the season series, improved to 25-3, while the Spartans dropped to 18-12. The two teams conclude their season series next Tuesday night at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Clemson scored five runs in the second inning on Cam Cannarella’s two-run single, Alden Mathes’ two-run triple and Blake Wright’s RBI groundout. Jacob Jarrell flared a run-scoring single in the third inning, then he ripped a run-scoring double in the fifth inning. Cannarella followed with a sharp grounder to bring home a run, then Mathes and Blake Wright hit run-scoring singles during Clemson’s five-run frame.

The Spartans dented the scoreboard with a run in the fifth inning on Troy Hamilton’s two-out, run-scoring single, ending Clemson’s streak of not allowing a run at 18 innings over three games.

Tiger starter Billy Barrow (4-1) earned the win. He allowed just three hits, one run and two walks with five strikeouts in 5.0 innings pitched. Spartan starter Cooper Ellingworth (4-2) suffered the loss.

The Tigers travel to Notre Dame for a three-game series, beginning Friday at 4:30 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.

–via Clemson Athletic Department

Tristan Bissetta’s two home runs carry Clemson over UNC Greensboro

Sophomore Tristan Bissetta made his first start of the season a memorable one. Batting ninth and playing right field, the local product out of Greenville’s JL Mann High School hit his first collegiate home runs in a 9-5 Clemson victory over UNC Greensboro Saturday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Sophomore Tristan Bissetta made his first start a memorable one.

Batting ninth and playing right field, the local product out of Greenville’s JL Mann High School hit his first collegiate home runs in a 9-5 Clemson victory over UNC Greensboro Saturday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

The Tigers, ranked ninth in this week’s USA TODAY Sports’ baseball coaches poll, improved to 12-1 this season.

Bissetta hit his first home run in the fourth inning off reliever Hunter Shuey to give the Tigers a 4-2 lead.

In the sixth, Bissetta went deep again, launching another opposite field home run off Shuey that just cleared the wall in left to extend the Tigers’ lead to 5-2.

Jimmy Overtop (3-for-4) had three hits, including a two-run single with two out in the sixth to make it 7-2.

The Tigers added some insurance in the eighth when Blake Wright launched a long home run to left. It was Wright’s fourth home run and put the Clemson lead back to five at 9-4.

Clemson totaled 14 hits in Saturday’s game. Cam Cannarella was 3-for-5 atop the order, and Bissetta, Wright and Alden Mathes each had two hits apiece.

Freshman Nolan Nawrocki, who’s earned the starting job at third base, also had two hits to extend his hitting streak to 11 games to open the season.

For the second straight day, Clemson fell behind early. The Spartans (8-6) jumped out to a 2-0 lead before Mathes tied the game with a two-run double to the gap in right-center in the third inning.

UNC Greensboro starter Jay Miller (0-1) lasted only 3 1/3 innings. He allowed three runs on six hits, walking one and striking out one in the loss.

Sophomore Tristan Smith made his fourth straight Saturday start and earned his first collegiate win. Smith (1-0) pitched five innings, throwing right at 100 pitches. He allowed two runs on one hit and four walks with six strikeouts.

Rob Hughes closed out a shaky ninth inning in relief of Ty Olenchuk, who opened the frame by hitting the first two batters he faced. Hughes allowed one hit and struck out two of the four batters he faced in his fifth appearance of the season.

Game 3 of the series is scheduled for Sunday at 2 p.m. EDT. Freshman right-hander Aidan Knaak (1-0, 5.14 ERA) will start for Clemson against UNC Greensboro’s Rob Ready (1-0, 3.77). The game will be streamed on ACC Network Extra (ACCNX).

Bats stay hot as Clemson beats Kansas State

No. 9 Clemson used a three-run home run from Nolan Nawrocki and a solo shot from Alden Mathes in a 8-2 victory over Kansas State in midweek play Wednesday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

No. 9 Clemson used a three-run home run from Nolan Nawrocki and a solo shot from Alden Mathes to pick up a 8-3 victory over Kansas State in midweek play Wednesday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

The Tigers (10-1 overall) jumped out to an early lead and never looked back.

Nawrocki’s home run, his third of the season, came in the second inning off Kansas State starter Andrew Evans. Nawrocki got a fastball up and out over the plate, which he drove over the fence in left-center for a 3-0 Clemson lead.

An inning later, Mathes launched a home run that sailed well above the wall in right to extend the lead to 5-0. Mathes’ home run came after Will Taylor had tripled and scored on a wild pitch earlier that inning.

Mathes (2-for-3) and Nawrocki (2-for-4) both finished with two hits for the Tigers, who tallied eight hits total in Tuesday’s victory.

Clemson added some insurance runs in the eighth. Jacob Hinderleider drew a bases-loaded walk with one out to make it 6-2. Nawrocki scored on an RBI groundout from Cam Cannarella, and Hinderleider crossed the plate after a wild pitch to extend the lead to 8-2.

“We got some nice, timely hits today,” Tigers coach Erik Bakich said afterwards. “Nawrocki’s three-run homer, Alden Mathes with a big two-out home run, and then having six quality at-bats in the eighth inning to get some momentum, string something together for another 3 spot.”

“It didn’t have quite the heroics or the fireworks, but it was a very solid performance,” Bakich added.

Justin LeGuernic started the ninth inning for Clemson but ran into trouble by allowing a leadoff single and two walks to load the bases with no one out. Rob Hughes followed as the Tigers’ fourth pitcher of the night. He allowed an RBI single to Brady Day before striking out Jayden Lobliner swinging to end the game.

Billy Barlow started and pitched five innings, allowing one run on six hits to earn his second win of the season for Clemson. Barlow (2-1) struck out five and walked two. He worked his way out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning without allowing a run to score.

Lucas Mahlstedt pitched three innings in relief for the Tigers, limiting Kansas State to a run one on two hits.

Evans (1-1) suffered the loss for the Wildcats (7-5 overall). He pitched three innings and yielded five runs on four hits.

UP NEXT: Clemson begins a three-game series Friday when UNC Greensboro visits Doug Kingsmore Stadium for the Tigers’ final non-conference weekend set of the season. Friday’s first pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. EST. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra (ACCNX).