Is Erik Bakich and the Clemson baseball team heating up at exactly the right time? If Tuesday night's performance is any indication, the answer is a resounding yes.
Clemson delivered a statement win on the road, taking down No. 8 Coastal Carolina 8-4 in a game that showcased everything you want from a team hitting its stride. The Tigers leaned on steady pitching and a deep, relentless lineup to even the season series and remind everyone why they're dangerous as the postseason approaches.
From the first pitch, Clemson set the tone. The bats came alive early, racking up 14 hits with contributions up and down the order. Jack Crighton led the charge, tying his career best with four hits. Tyler Lichtenberger and Jarren Purify each added two, while Tryston McCladdie drove in a pair. Nate Savoie was a spark plug, reaching base three times, scoring twice, and continuing his hot stretch with another RBI.
The Tigers grabbed control in the second inning when Bryce Clavon laid down a perfect squeeze bunt to bring home the first run. An inning later, McCladdie came through with a two-run single to stretch the lead to 3-0. Even when Coastal tried to claw back in the fifth, Clemson's pitching staff had an answer. Ariston Veasey worked out of a bases-loaded jam with back-to-back strikeouts, keeping the Tigers firmly in front.
The sixth inning became another turning point. Savoie lined a two-out double off the wall to bring in a run, then later scored on a defensive miscue to extend the lead. Coastal answered with a two-run double of its own, but Clemson didn't let things spiral—a sign of a mature, composed team.
Late in the game, the Tigers created separation when it mattered most. Luke Gaffney added an RBI single in the eighth, Savoie came around on a wild pitch, and Jason Fultz Jr. capped the scoring with a squeeze bunt in the ninth. It was textbook situational baseball, the kind that wins championships.
On the mound, Clemson used a mix of arms to keep a dangerous Coastal lineup in check. Freshman Danny Nelson handled the start with two scoreless innings, while Drew Titsworth picked up the win after tossing two clean frames. The bullpen as a whole limited big innings and never let the Chanticleers seize control.
With the win, Clemson moves to 29-20 and heads back home for a big ACC matchup. If this team is truly getting hot at the right time, the Tigers could be a tough out for anyone down the stretch. For fans, it's the kind of performance that makes you believe something special might be brewing in Clemson.