With season on the line, Tigers have their backs against the wall again

Clemson has to win two in a row now to fulfill this year's Omaha dream.

by Grayson Mann - Correspondent - Sun Jun 09 07:00:02 GMT-04:00 2024

CLEMSON – The road to Omaha has an added bump.

Following a 10-7 loss to Florida in game one of the Super Regional, Clemson’s path to reaching the College World Series becomes more challenging.

Despite the daunting task ahead of them, there was nothing but confidence from Erik Bakich that his group can find a way to get the job done.

“We’re still alive,” Bakich said. “It is a series for a reason, and we have been in this position before. I couldn’t think of a better group of guys to be on the ropes and punch their way out.”

Bakich isn’t the only one who feels his group can thrive under the pressure. Alden Mathes, who also spoke to the media following the game one loss, shares the sentiment of his head coach.

“Our confidence isn’t altered at all,” said Mathes. “We know we gotta win a series for a trip to Omaha. Losing game one isn’t ideal, but we’ve had our backs against the wall all year, and that’s where we thrive. It hurts to lose game one, but there’s no doubt in our minds we can go out and win game two.”

The Tigers, who have to win two in a row now starting with Sunday's game (2:30 p.m./ESPN), have certainly played with their backs against the wall throughout the 2023-24 season. Clemson has notched 25 comeback wins while winning three series after dropping the first game.

Bakich addressed his group's familiarity with adverse situations, which he believes can help his team, which is now on the brink of elimination.

“We’ve played this way all year,” said Bakich. “We’ve played in big deficits, small deficits, and plenty of games; 25 times this year, we have been behind. The way this group has approached everything for the entire year, from meeting No. 1 and competing in everything they do, they do all the right things.”

Clemson’s season will end or be extended on Sunday with Bakich’s straightforward message: it’s go time.

“I have no doubt we can get it done. We will do it or die trying,” Bakich said, capping his postgame news conference with a wry smile.