Clemson baseball’s season has reached the point where talk doesn’t matter much anymore. The results have to show up now.
Sitting at 26-16 overall and just 6-12 in ACC play, the Tigers have backed themselves into a corner with only a couple weeks left in the regular season. What makes it frustrating is they haven’t been getting blown out, it’s been the opposite. Game after game, series after series, they’ve been right there, but not finishing the job when it matters most.
“It was just another weekend where we were right there and so close and a pitch away,” head coach Erik Bakich said. “(A) lot of opportunities that we just weren’t able to cash in on. So, I actually like the mentality we’ve got right now. Hopefully, we can be on the better side of that one pitch moving forward.”
That “one pitch” feeling has basically defined their conference play. Clemson keeps putting itself in position, then watching things slip late. It’s why the record looks the way it does, and why the margin for error is basically gone.
Instead of letting that pile up mentally, Bakich is pushing his team to stay locked in on what’s ahead rather than what’s already gone.
“Playing with the right mindset moving forward is really important,” Bakich said. “Sometimes in this game you can really dwell on your past mistakes, and it serves no purpose because you’re dwelling on the wouldas, couldas, shouldas, and the what-ifs. It’s just a negative thought cycle that nobody wants to be in. So, it’s just more about forward thinking and just what we can control. So, I like that mindset a lot better, and I like that they’re using that mindset in a very positive way.”
There’s no shortcut here. If Clemson wants to get back into the NCAA Tournament picture, it’s going to have to stack wins in a hurry. A strong finish in ACC play, something close to flipping the script over the final stretch, is likely the only way to get back into the conversation.
“We may not be in a good spot in terms of looking at the conference standings, but, you know, it’s just where we are, and all we can do is move forward,” Bakich said. “Each day is a new opportunity, and we can make the most out of it. So, that’s where we’re at, and that’s where we’re going. We’ll just put our head down and get to work and just try to play our butts off. You know, we’ll look up, maybe in a month, and see where everything settles.”
There are at least a couple reasons to believe things could shift. Help may be coming back to the lineup soon, as Jarren Purify works toward a return after missing time with a hand injury. His presence would give the offense more balance at a time when every run matters.
“I sure hope so,” Bakich said. “Yeah, I sure hope so. We need him back.”
At this point, though, it’s less about who’s in the lineup and more about finally delivering in the moments that have slipped away all year. Clemson has been close plenty of times. Now they have to prove they can actually close.
Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Clemson HC Erik Bakich on what the Tigers need to do down the stretch
