CLEMSON BASEBALL

Gossett says Tigers have big goals in mind

Gossett says Tigers have big goals in mind


by - Staff Writer -

Winning the ACC is nice, but Jack Leggett Jack Leggett
Baseball Head Coach
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’s Tiger baseball team has bigger goals in mind.

That goal is written on the back of every player’s cap, on their cleats, on the bat box in the dugout, and in the locker room.

Omaha.

And, the first stop on the road to Omaha is Tallahassee, Florida for a three-game series with division rival Florida State.

Win and the Tigers win the Atlantic division and are all but a lock to host a regional, something sophomore pitcher Daniel GossettDaniel Gossett
So. RH Pitcher
#23 6-0, 180
Lyman, SC

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said is key to Clemson’s success in the post season.

“Obviously we need to go down there and sweep because we want to host,” Gossett said after Tuesday night’s victory over USC Upstate. “That’s the goal is to host a regional, host supers [Super Regional], and get to Omaha. We were talking about it in the bullpen, and statistics show that going on the road for a regional is not where you want to be. If we can down there and take care of business so we can host, that would be ideal for what we want to do.”

Kevin BradleyKevin Bradley
Fr. Infielder
#37 6-1, 200
Pennington, NJ

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and the Clemson offense bailed the Clemson pitchers out in Tuesday’s 8-7 win, but Gossett said that he prefers that the pitching staff take care of business and take the pressure off of the offense.

“Most nights, we’re not asking the offense to score eight. Coach Pep keeps telling us that we if keep doing our job, one day the hitters are going to bail us out of the game and today was that game,” he said. “We just had that one bad inning. Johnny Meyer came in and put out the fire and pitched his butt off. Then the other pitchers that followed him came in and did their job. It’s a confidence boost to know that we’ve got guys in the pen that if we get in trouble can come in and put those fires out.”

With the level of competition increasing over the next couple of weeks, all eyes will be on the Clemson pitchers and in order to be successful, they have to treat every pitch the same.

“In reality, it’s a little bit bigger deal, but you can’t go in and treat it any differently,” he said. “You can’t go in thinking that ‘now we’re trying to host so now it’s time to turn it on.’ It’s all about the next pitch and trying to get to the next pitch. You have to turn it on from the word go and make your first pitch your best pitch.”

After the visit to Florida State, the Tigers head to Durham for the ACC Tournament, just another stop on their way to Omaha

“We just want to host regionals. The ACC Tournament is going to be a deal in itself, but after the ACC Tournament we want to have a chance to play a regional on our field. The ACC Tournament is great, but our goal is Omaha,” Gossett said.

Gossett is confident that this Clemson team has what it takes to make a run in Omaha.

“School is over and now there’s a little extra on the plate so it’s time to go get it. When the lights come on, it’s time to go pitch,” he said. “This team is ready to go deep into the postseason.”

The Tigers and the Seminoles play tonight at 6:00 p.m., Friday at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday at 3:00 p.m.

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