Another standout season sees bitter end, but Tigers say program is on 'right track'

Tiger players reflected on a tough end to a strong season, and what's ahead for Erik Bakich's Tigers. (Photo: Ken Ruinard / USATODAY)

by Grayson Mann - Correspondent - Mon Jun 10 06:53:51 GMT-04:00 2024

CLEMSON – Team 127’s season story has come to a close.

The Clemson Tigers fell in heartbreaking fashion in game two of the Super Regional Sunday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium to the Florida Gators, 11-10. After 13 innings of back-and-forth baseball, the team had a chance to reflect on the state of the program.

With Erik Bakich unable to speak to the media due to an ejection late in the game, Austin Gordon spoke on his behalf. Gordon felt the pain of a crushing loss but believes the program is heading towards greater heights.

“It is a credit to all the coaches,” said Gordon. “Even seeing Coach Leggett get thrown out was pretty awesome. It was a tough way to go down, but I think we got this program on the right track.”

Since Bakich took over the baseball operation at Clemson, the program has gone 88-35, including success in the postseason.

The Tigers got hot at the right time in Bakich’s first year but couldn’t get out of their regional, dropping back-to-back losses to Tennesee and Charlotte.

Team 127 chose a different path.

Once again, Clemson claimed a national seed and hosted a regional, posting a 40-win regular season with 25 comeback wins. However, this group’s place in the history books would be judged on its postseason success.

Bakich and the Tigers accomplished something that had eluded the program for over a decade: winning a regional. Clemson didn’t drop a game while holding each opponent to five runs or less defensively.

Although Clemson’s season didn’t end as the team hoped, Blake Wright agrees with Gordon that the program is set for success.

“At the end of the day, we fought hard,” said Wright. “Team 127 will always be about never being out of the fight. Shoutout to Coach Bakich and everyone for leading us in such an awesome way. This program is back on the right path.”

There are no more chapters to write for Team 127, but if you ask Jimmy Obertop, Bakich is the perfect guy to chart a new story for Clemson Baseball.

“Coach Bakich and this staff are incredible,” said Obertop. “To see EB have our back no matter what is cool to see. We are all in this together, but we can’t do it without him. I wouldn’t wanna play for anyone else.”