Tag: Clemson Regional

Watch Clemson Baseball pull off this viral ‘hidden ball’ trick play

Watch Clemson Baseball execute the legendary ‘hidden ball’ trick play on their way to a 12-5 victory over Coastal Carolina.

Every young baseball player dreams of performing stunts like a walk-off grand slam or pitching a no-hitter. On Sunday, Clemson Baseball went viral for executing one of those legendary feats, the “hidden ball” trick play.

The Tigers were playing in game six of the Clemson Regional. They were up 2-1 on Coastal Carolina in the top of the second inning with one out and runners on second and third. Third baseman Blake Wright was the executor of the now-viral play. He goes up to pitcher Ethan Darden to hand the ball off.

Instead of handing the ball off hand-to-glove, Wright sneakily used his glove to act like he gave it to Darden. He walked back to his position without tipping off anyone, and as soon as centerfielder Dean Mihos stepped off the bag, Wright tagged him for the second out of the inning. Situationally, the play was genius. Coastal Carolina was no longer a threat with a bunt or sacrifice fly, pushing the tying run back to second with two outs.

Here’s the heads-up play from Wright.

Clemson will host the winner of Oklahoma State and Florida in the super-regional round next weekend.

Watch as Clemson players, Erik Bakich discuss Tigers’ sweep at Clemson Regional

Here’s everything Clemson coach Erik Bakich and crew had to say after the Tigers advanced to their first Super Regional in 14 years.

Clemson is headed to the Super Regional.

The Tigers (44-14 overall) defeated Coastal Carolina, 12-5, Sunday evening at Doug Kingsmore Stadium to win the school’s first NCAA Tournament Regional since 2010.

Clemson totaled 14 hits in the game and got three RBIs atop the lineup from Alden Mathes and Jacob Hinderleider, plus home runs from Cam Cannarella and Jimmy Obertop. Blake Wright had two hits and an RBI, as well.

RELATED: Tigers head to first Super Regional in 14 years after winning Clemson Regional

Ethan Darden started and pitched 4 2/3 solid innings to put the Tigers in a good spot as they built a 6-2 lead midway through the game. After Coastal Carolina (36-25) cut the lead to 6-5 in the top of the eighth, Clemson put the game out of reach a half-inning later by tallying six runs on five hits.

Austin Gordon got the final out of the eighth inning and pitched a scoreless ninth to close out the game.

Afterwards, Hinderleider, Wright and Gordon joined Clemson coach Erik Bakich to discuss Sunday’s victory with reporters. Here’s everything Bakich and the players had to say.

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Super! Tigers head to first Super Regional in 14 years after winning Clemson Regional

Clemson is headed to its first Super Regional since 2010 after downing Coastal Carolina, 12-5, Sunday evening at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Top-seeded Clemson put pressure on third-seeded Coastal Carolina early and often en route to a 12-5 victory to win the Clemson Regional of the NCAA Baseball Tournament Sunday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

The Tigers (44-14 overall) won all three of their games at the regional and will host the winner of the Stillwater Regional in a best-of-three Super Regional next weekend. It’s the first time Clemson has advanced to a Super Regional since 2010.

After Coastal Carolina (36-25) eliminated High Point in the Clemson Regional earlier in the day, the nightcap featured plenty of opportunities for both teams early on. But it was Clemson that took advantage at the plate and in the field the most.

The Tigers built a 6-2 lead entering the eighth inning before Coastal Carolina quieted the crowd with back-to-back home runs off Reid Garris from Caden Bodine and Derek Bender to make it a one-run game at 6-5.

Coach Erik Bakich brought in Austin Gordon, pitching for the third straight day in relief at Clemson’s regional. Gordon struck out Blake Barthol to close out the top of the eighth and preserve the lead.

After leaving the bases loaded in both the fifth and sixth innings, and stranding two more runners in the seventh, Clemson wouldn’t be denied in the eighth. The Tigers batted 10 times and scored six runs to grab a 12-5 lead.

Cam Cannarella crushed a solo home run to lead off the eighth. It was Cannarella’s 10th homer and 56th RBI of the year.

Jimmy Obertop, who provided Clemson with its first home run of the regional with a one-out solo shot in the third inning, reached on a throwing error from reliever Hayden Johnson. After Andrew Bowers took over in relief, Tristan Bissetta doubled to right. Jack Crighton followed with an RBI single past a drawn-in infield to make it 8-5.

Jarren Purify was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out and force another pitching change. Afterwards, Alden Mathes split the gap in right center for a two-run double against Dominick Carbone to bring the score to 10-5.

Jacob Hinderleider capped the Tigers’ scoring with a two-run double off the third base bag to bring in Purify and Mathes for a 12-5 lead.

Gordon pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to close out Coastal Carolina in the final game of legendary coach Gary Gilmore’s 28-year run as Chanticleers head coach.

Hinderleider was 3-for-5 with a walk and three RBIs. He finished the Clemson Regional 9-for-15 with two doubles.

Clemson got two hits or more atop the lineup from each of its first four hitters. Mathes went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, and Blake Wright (2-6) and Cannarella (2-5) added two hits, as well.

The Tigers totaled 14 hits in the game as every batter reached base.

Ethan Darden gave Clemson a much-needed 4 2/3 innings of solid work in his 11th start of the year. The left-hander ran into trouble early by allowing five of the first seven batters to reach base, but he rebounded to retire eight straight hitters before allowing a leadoff double to Zack Beach to open the fifth.

Darden left after holding Coastal Carolina to two runs on five hits.

One of the biggest plays in the game came with the Chanticleers threatening in the second inning. That’s when Clemson reached into its bag of tricks.

With the Tigers leading 2-1 and Coastal Carolina having already plated a run that inning, Darden and Wright executed a hidden ball trick when Wright casually left the mound and strode back to the bag at third. Wright then tagged out an unsuspecting Dean Mihos when Mihos left the bag and took his lead off third.

Darden ended the inning by getting Sebastian Alexander on a tapper back to the mound to swing the momentum in Clemson’s favor. The Tigers never surrendered the lead after going ahead 2-0 in the first inning courtesy of an RBI single from Wright and an RBI fielder’s choice from Obertop.

Garris (2-1) earned the win in relief. He threw three scoreless frames before allowing the back-to-back home runs in the eighth to Bodine and Bender.

Trevor Hinkel (1-3) started and suffered the loss for Coastal Carolina, one of seven pitchers used in the game after the Chanticleers used seven pitchers in their 6-5 win over High Point earlier in the day.

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Tigers, Coastal Carolina to determine Clemson Regional winner

Clemson and Coastal Carolina will decide the Clemson Regional of the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers need just one more win to advance to the program’s first Super Regional since 2010.

The top-seeded Clemson baseball team needs just one win to advance to the program’s first Super Regional since 2010.

Standing in the Tigers’ (43-14 overall) way will be third-seeded Coastal Carolina, which Clemson defeated 4-3 Saturday to put themselves in the driver’s seat.

Coastal Carolina (36-24) eliminated fourth-seeded High Point with a 6-5 victory at the Clemson Regional earlier Sunday.

The Tigers and Chanticleers will meet for the second time in 24 hours at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. EDT. The game can be seen on ESPN+. Clemson will be the designated home team.

In a way, it’s somewhat fitting that the regional will be decided by Clemson and Coastal Carolina. The two teams had planned to meet in the regular season, but both scheduled contests were postponed due to inclement weather: March 26 in Clemson and May 14 at Spring Brooks Stadium in Conway.

Left-hander Ethan Darden will be on the bump for the Tigers Sunday, The Clemson Insider‘s Will Vandervort reports. Darden is 5-4 with a 5.04 ERA in 17 appearances (10 starts) this season. His last start came in Clemson’s ACC Tournament loss to Miami on May 23. In that game, Darden surrendered six runs and five hits in 1 1/3 innings.

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Watch Clemson coach Erik Bakich, players talk win over Coastal Carolina

Here’s everything Clemson coach Erik Bakich, Cam Cannarella and Jacob Hinderleider had to say after the Tigers’ 4-3 victory over Coastal Carolina Saturday.

For the second straight day, top-seeded Clemson earned a 4-3 victory at the Clemson Regional of the NCAA Baseball Tournament Saturday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

The Tigers (43-14 overall) got a go-ahead RBI sacrifice fly from Cam Cannarella in the top of the ninth inning to defeat third-seeded Coastal Carolina (35-24). Cannarella finished with three RBIs, and Jacob Hinderleider had five hits in a perfect 5-for-5 day at the plate.

Coastal Carolina and fourth-seeded High Point will play an elimination game at noon EDT Sunday. The Tigers are scheduled to face the winner of that game at 6 p.m. High Point eliminated second-seeded Vanderbilt at the Clemson Regional on Saturday.

RELATED: Tigers rally past Coastal Carolina in Clemson Regional

After Saturday’s victory, Cannarella and Hinderleider joined head coach Erik Bakich to meet with reporters. Here’s what Bakich, Cannarella and Hinderleider had to say.

Follow us @Clemson_Wire on X and on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news, notes and commentary. 

Tigers rally past Coastal Carolina in Clemson Regional

Another day, another ninth-inning rally by Clemson.

Another day, another ninth-inning rally for top-seeded Regional host Clemson.

Cam Cannarella hit a go-ahead RBI sacrifice fly in the ninth inning off Cameron Flukey to give Clemson a 4-3 win over third-seeded Coastal Carolina at the Clemson Regional of the NCAA Baseball Tournament Saturday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

The Tigers (43-14 overall) improved to 2-0 in Regional play for the first time since 2011. They’ll face the winner of Sunday’s elimination game between Coastal Carolina (35-24) and fourth-seeded High Point.

Clemson got five hits Saturday from shortstop Jacob Hinderleider (5-for-5), including a ninth-inning single that moved the eventual winning run (Alden Mathes) from first to third.

Cannarella’s sac fly just missed a three-run home run, but it was his third RBI of the day and gave the Tigers the win after Austin Gordon pitched a scoreless 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth. Gordon earned his 10th save with Jacob McGovern (3-0) getting the win in relief.

For the second straight day, the theme of the day was runners left on base. The Tigers stranded 10 while the Chanticleers stranded six and went 0-for-4 with men in scoring position.

Clemson took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a Blake Wright sacrifice fly after the first two batters reached off Coastal Carolina starter Henry Weycker.

The Tigers stranded single runners in the first and second innings before loading the bases with no one out in the third. Dean Mihos robbed Cannarella of a bases-clearing hit with a diving catch in right-center that allowed only one run to score on a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 Clemson lead.

A half-inning later, Sam Antonacci hit a solo home run off Tigers starter Aidan Knaak to put Coastal Carolina on the board.

The Tigers left two on in both the fourth and fifth innings before Coastal Carolina tied it in the sixth. Graham Brown and Caden Bodine singled leading off to put runners at the corners with no one out. Blake Barthol laid down a squeeze that Knaak tried to underhand to get the lead runner at the plate, but Brown scored to tie the game.

Clemson briefly went back ahead in the seventh, thanks to both Hinderleider and Cannarella. Hinderleider doubled to the base of the wall in left with one out. With two away, Cannarella lined an RBI single up the middle for a 3-2 Tigers lead.

Zack Beach crushed the first pitch he saw from Clemson reliever Lucas Mahlstedt for a solo home run to tie the game. Mahlstedt bounced back to retire the next three batters to close out the seventh.

Mahlstedt, Drew Titsworth and McGovern combined for a scoreless eighth inning. With two on and two away. McGovern fell behind 2-0 in the count before rallying to strike out Mihos on an off-speed pitch low and away to end the inning and set the stage for Clemson’s latest ninth-inning rally.

Knaak pitched well over six strong innings in his 14th start. He scattered six hits but yielded only two runs in a no-decision. The freshman right-hander struck out six without allowing a walk in a 90-pitch effort.

Weycker went six innings and scattered six hits for Coastal Carolina, allowing two unearned runs.

Clemson will face the Coastal Carolina-High Point winner at 6 p.m. Sunday. The Panthers eliminated No. 2 seed Vanderbilt at the Clemson Regional earlier Saturday.

Watch as Erik Bakich, Clemson players discuss 4-3 win over High Point

Here’s what Clemson coach Erik Bakich and players had to say after the Tigers’ 4-3 walk-off victory against High Point Friday night.

Top-seeded Clemson won a hard-fought opener against fourth-seeded High Point Friday night at the Clemson Regional at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Tristan Bissetta’s walk-off single scored Blake Wright to give the Tigers (42-14 overall) a 4-3 victory and put them in the winners’ bracket with No. 3 seed Coastal Carolina (35-23). The Chanticleers defeated No. 2 seed Vanderbilt, 13-3, at the Clemson Regional earlier Friday.

RELATED: Tigers walk off High Point in Clemson Regional

The Tigers and Chanticleers are scheduled to play at 5 p.m. EDT Saturday. The two were scheduled to meet in the regular season at Coastal Carolina’s Spring Brooks Stadium on May 14, but the game was postponed due to weather.

The winner of Saturday’s game will advance to the regional finals to play the Vanderbilt vs. High Point winner.

After Friday’s victory, Bissetta joined teammate Tristan Smith and head coach Erik Bakich to answer questions from reporters. Here’s what Bakich, Bissetta and Smith had to say.

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Tigers walk off High Point in Clemson Regional

Tristan Bissetta hit a walk-off RBI single to give the Tigers a 4-3 win over High Point in the Clemson Regional of the NCAA Tournament Friday night at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Tristan Bissetta hit a walk-off RBI single in the ninth inning off Adam Grintz, and top-seeded Clemson defeated fourth-seeded High Point, 4-3, in the Clemson Regional of the NCAA Baseball Tournament Friday night at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

The Tigers (42-14 overall) advanced to the winners’ bracket and will face No. 3 seed Coastal Carolina at 5 p.m. EDT Saturday. The Chanticleers defeated No. 2 seed Vanderbilt, 13-3, earlier in the day Friday.

After Blake Wright led off the ninth with a double down the right field line, Panthers (34-26) coach Joey Hammond signaled for an intentional walk to Cam Cannarella.

Jimmy Obertop struck out before Bissetta came through with the winning hit. He lined a sharp single just past the glove of a diving Brayden Simpson at second to score Wright for the Tigers’ 25th come-from-behind victory this season. The ball left Bissetta’s bat at 109 mph, according to data provided by TrackMan.

Clemson out-hit High Point 10-7 in a game that featured plenty of good pitching — and missed opportunities. The Tigers and Panthers each stranded 11 runners on base.

Clemson broke a scoreless tie in the third inning thanks to a clutch two-out RBI single from Cannarella for a 1-0 lead.

After High Point grabbed a 2-1 lead a half-inning later, Bissetta doubled to lead off the Tigers’ fourth. Jack Crighton followed with a single to advance Bissetta to third.

With Jarren Purify batting with one away, coach Erik Bakich called for a squeeze. Purify laid down a bunt, and when High Point starter Gus Hughes tried to make a play by using the web of his glove to flip the ball home to catcher Eric Grintz, the ball sailed over Grintz’s head to allow Bissetta to score without a tag and tie the game at 2-2.

High Point went back ahead at 3-2 in the sixth when Peyton Carr singled to lead off the inning and came around to score.

Clemson starter Tristan Smith left in the sixth after allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits in 5 1/3 innings. He finished with nine strikeouts after retiring the first nine batters he faced and striking out five of the first six.

The Tigers answered in the bottom of the sixth. Jacob Jarrell doubled to put runners in scoring position with no one out. Purify dropped an RBI single into shallow center on an 0-2 count to tie the game at 3-3.

Purify’s single moved the potential go-ahead run to third, but Alden Mathes flied to shallow center and Jacob Hinderleider struck out swinging. Wright then grounded sharply to third to end the inning, giving Clemson nine runners left on base through six innings.

Reed Garris, Lucas Mahlstedt, and Austin Gordon combined for 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief the rest of the way. The trio held High Point to just one hit.

Gordon (2-2) earned the win after stranding the potential go-ahead run at third when he retired Patrick Matthews on a routine fly to center to close out the top of the ninth.

Hughes pitched seven innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on eight hits in a gutsy 118-pitch performance. Grintz (2-1) suffered the loss after pitching the final inning and a third for the Panthers.

Clemson got two hits apiece from Bissetta (2-for-4), Crighton (2-4) and Purify (2-3) in the 6-8 spots in the lineup.

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Erik Bakich wants ’10th man’ atmosphere for Clemson Regional

Clemson coach Erik Bakich called on Tigers fans to be loud this weekend at the team’s NCAA Tournament regional.

Clemson baseball coach Erik Bakich used his Monday gathering with reporters to issue a challenge to Tiger fans.

Bakich was asked (more than once) about a potential matchup with Vanderbilt, the No. 2 seed at this week’s Clemson Regional — and the storylines of a Tigers-Commodores showdown at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Why? Because both Bakich and Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin were assistants under legendary Clemson coach Jack Leggett in 2002. The Tigers made the College World Series that year before Corbin became head coach at Vandy. Bakich followed Corbin to Nashville before being named head coach at Michigan in 2012.

Bakich led the Wolverines to the cusp of Omaha glory with a trip to the College World Series Finals in 2019 — against Corbin’s powerhouse Vanderbilt program. Vandy won a decisive Game 3 to capture the Commodores’ second national championship in five years.

But instead of focusing on any storylines involving himself and Corbin, Bakich used his meeting with reporters to send a message to Clemson fans.

“We just need the fans to show up and be loud. Let’s just focus on that, if we want to focus on something,” Bakich said rather curtly.

Clemson is the No. 6 overall seed for the NCAA Tournament. As a top-eight national seed, they will have home-field advantage until the start of the College World Series, regardless of how long their postseason lasts.

The Tigers would host a Super Regional at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, if they win a tough Regional draw that also includes Coastal Carolina and High Point.

“When the crowd is loud, and they stand up and clap with two outs and two strikes and they actually have synchronized chants and they cheer and they get into it and they’re actually an active participant in the game instead of a spectator, our guys absolutely feed off that,” Bakich said.

“That’s what we need the crowd to do. We need DKS to be filled with six- or seven thousand participants acting as if they’re the 10th man on the field. Not just showing up to watch a game. And if we can do that? Wow. I can’t wait to hear this place rocking.”

Clemson opens its regional against No. 4 seed High Point at 7 p.m. EDT Friday. The game can be seen on ACC Network.

“We certainly can’t overlook the first game, which is High Point,” Bakich said. “For us, this is the High Point Regional and that’s where our energy and focus will be is just on what do we need to do to get in the winners bracket?”

A full video of Bakich’s meeting with reporters is available from our friends at The Clemson Insider and can be seen below.

Clemson baseball regional teams announced

The Tigers will face High Point, the No. 4 seed in the Clemson Regional, Friday at 7 p.m. EDT. No. 2 seed Vanderbilt will face No. 3 seed Coastal Carolina earlier that day.

CLEMSON, S.C. – The Tigers were selected to the NCAA Tournament as the No. 6 national seed and No. 1 seed in the Clemson (S.C.) Regional at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The Tigers (41-14) face No. 4 seed High Point (34-25) in their opening game, while No. 2 seed Vanderbilt (38-21) and No. 3 seed Coastal Carolina (34-23) round out the regional field.

It marks Clemson’s 46th NCAA Tournament appearance, fifth most in the nation.

Vanderbilt and Coastal Carolina open the double-elimination regional on Friday at noon on ESPN2. Clemson then hosts High Point on Friday at 7 p.m. on ACC Network.

CLEMSON REGIONAL TICKET INFORMATION

All-session tickets for the Clemson Regional will go on sale to IPTAY members on Monday afternoon. On Wednesday at 4:30 p.m., all-session tickets will go on sale for all fans. Single-session tickets will go on sale on Friday. To purchase tickets at the applicable dates and times, click HERE.

–via Clemson Athletic Communications

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